Al-Ahram Weekly Issue No. 247 16 - 22 November 1995
Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875

The outlawed Muslim Brotherhood has no legal sanction as a political party, and yet it is a major contender in this month's elections. Amira Howeidy reviews its history and repeated confrontations with successive governments, interviews Mustafa Mashhour, one of its leaders, and invites political experts to assess its performance

Vacant guidance

Hamid Abul-Nasr

Hamid Abul-Nasr, 82, is the fourth Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, succeeding Omar El-Telmessani who died in 1987. Abul-Nasr hails from a rich, religious and nationalist family with firm roots in Manfalout in the southern governorate of Assiut. He did not receive a university education but was an avid reader, particularly in Islamic jurisprudence.

The turning point of his life was an encounter, at the age of 21, with the group's founder, Hassan El-Banna, while he was propagating the Brotherhood's message in Upper Egypt. Immediately responding to El-Banna's call, Abul-Nasr joined the group in 1934. He rose within its ranks and moved on from head of the Manfalout branch to having overall responsibility for Upper Egypt five years later.

His active performance was admired by El-Banna, who appointed him to the General Guidance Bureau. Following El-Banna's assassination, Abul-Nasr was assigned to the same post by the Brotherhood's general assembly.

Following an abortive attempt on the life of President Gamal Abdel-Nasser in Alexandria in 1954, Abul-Nasr was arrested along with many Brotherhood members. He was convicted of plotting to overthrow the government and sentenced to life imprisonment with hard labour. After his release 18 years later, in October 1972, he became an active assistant of El-Telmessani.

For the past eight years, Abul-Nasr has been the Brotherhood's Supreme Guide but his health has deteriorated over the last two years, making him unable to discharge his responsibilities. He now prefers to stay at home in Manfalout. This triggered rumours that he had retired in favour of Mustafa Mashhour, but the rumours were denied by the group and Abul-Nasr himself.

However, his desk at the Brotherhood's headquarters in downtown Tawfikiyeh Street is always vacant. Mashhour sits behind a desk on the other side of the room, surrounded by assistants.

 

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