A Blog by the Editor of The Middle East Journal

Putting Middle Eastern Events in Cultural and Historical Context

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

MB Deputy ‘Ezzat a Takfiri? An Emerging Theme?

Okay. I'm not expert on the Muslim Brotherhood. But this story in Al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) herec claims that the arrest of MB Deputy Supreme Guide Mahmud ‘Ezzat was because he heads a Takfiri wing in the Brotherhood. And the recent Al-Ahram Weekly (English) summary of the new leadership emphasized ‘Ezzat's support of the late Sayyid Qutb. Qutb is generally credited with the basic takfiri idea that Muslims who don't live up to Islamist standards should be treated as unbelievers (kuffar) and thus they are enemies of Islam.

I'm unaware of any current MB leaders who practice or preach takfiri doctrine. Perhaps ‘Ezzat was indeed a follower of Qutb: that was a long time ago (he was executed in 1966) in an Egypt far, far away (Nasser pre-1967 war).

But this seems to be an emerging rationale for rounding ‘Ezzat up now.



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