The Muslim Brotherhood of Algeria: Bouteflika’s measures circumvent people’s demands.

The Movement of Society for Peace (Hams: Muslim Brotherhood of Algeria) has rejected recent measures proposed by the president of Algeria Abdelaziz Bouteflika, considering them to be aimed at dismantling an initiative by the movement to rescue the country from the  ensuing political crisis.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the movement said on Tuesday, March 12, that “the National Executive Office considers that the measures announced by the President of the Republic do not live up to the aspirations of the Algerian people who took the streets in millions in different states demanding a real change”.

The statement said that “the announced postponement procedures are not compatible with the initiative of The Movement of Society for Peace, which was presented to the presidency and to the opposition… [These procedures are instead] stripping the initiative of its content and abusing its honesty and credibility in a way that cannot be accepted”.

The statement also discussed “fundamental differences” between the presidential decisions to postpone the elections and the initiative by the Movement of a Society for Peace, which was handed in to the presidency and was presented to most opposition parties and figures. The procedures completely lack the principle of consensus and the legal and constitutional framework that the movement upholds. Moreover, the measures do not specify the mechanisms for agreeing on deep reforms nor set a deadline, as opposed to the Movement’s initiative and the requests of many political parties and personalities. This makes “the announced procedures an extension of the fourth term, and not a postponement of the elections,” the group said.

The statement called on “all parties to give preference to the language of dialogue, which does not exclude anyone in the political class or civil society and includes the youth of the popular movement in order to reflect the genuine national trend towards achieving a smooth and negotiated democratic transition”. The movement also declared that it “remains open to any other initiative that achieves a smooth, safe, and peaceful political transition that serves the public interest.”

The Muslim Brotherhood of Syria Calls on Turkey to Supervise Safe Zone

The Muslim Brotherhood of Syria has appealed to Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for Turkey’s supervision over the safe zone in northern Syria, which has been decided on by international powers.

In a statement issued on February 28, the Brotherhood said that the “vulnerable and fearful” should feel “security, stability, and peace” in the safe zone in northern Syria. However, it would not be safe should the supervision order be given to any of the parties who were the reason for killing and displacing Syrians and planting fear and terror in the hearts of their women and children, the group said, pointing fingers at Russia and Iran, who are the allies of the Syrian regime.

The Brotherhood completely rejected the idea that either the Syrian regime or its Russian and Iranian allies or America and its Kurdish allies should supervise the zone. The statement stressed that no Syrian immigrant would return to this promised safe zone should it become “a base for terrorism in all its forms and militias”.

The statement pointed out that Turkey was committed to all Syrians who sought refuge during the war as was required by civil rights documents, brotherhood values, and the requirements of neighborliness. The statement called on Turkey to take on what it described as the country’s “strategic duty” to respond to the aspirations of the Syrians and their hope for security from fear, and appealed to the Turkish president to support the Syrians by insisting on sponsoring the safe zone.

Benkirane Defends the King and Criticizes his Political Opponents

Abdelilah Benkirane, the former Moroccan Prime Minister, once again expressed his support to the monarchy in its current form, announcing, “It is said that I am more royalist than the king, and I say that I don’t mind being more royalist than the king”. He added that absolute loyalty to the king does not mean abandoning efforts to realize progress and gradual change. Benkirane said, “It is necessary to seek counsel and we must fight corruption and tyranny as much as possible”.

On another note, Benkirane criticized the President of the National Council for Human Rights, Amina Bouayach, and the President of the Competition Council, Idris al-Karawi, and warned of their failure to perform their duties.

Nevertheless, the president of the National Council for Human Rights, Amina Bouayach, defended the retrial of the leader of the Justice and Development Party, Abd al-Ali Hami ad-Din, while Idris al-Karawi, president of the Competition Council, criticized the government’s plan to limit the profits of energy companies.