Algeria’s Movement of Society for Peace: the Implementation of Article 102 is Insufficient, A Consensual Government must be Formed

The Movement of Society for Peace (Hams: Muslim Brotherhood of Algeria) said on March 26, 2019 that declaring the vacancy of the presidency by Army chief of staff, Lieutenant General Ahmed Gaid Salah, is “insufficient”.

The movement demanded that this step be preceded by the formation of a consensual government, and the establishment of an independent national committee to organize the elections. This came in a statement of the movement after an emergency meeting of its executive office to discuss the invitation of the General Ahmed Gaid Saleh to activate Article 102 on the vacancy of the post of President as a solution to the current crisis.

According to the statement, “the sole activation of Article 102 does not allow the implementation of reforms and doesn’t allow the democratic transition and free and fair elections”.

The movement called for “the necessity to add measures that meet the demands of the Algerian people in the case of the application of Article 102, and to take the proposals of the political class into account”.

The movement also called for “the amendment of the election law and the urgent issuance of decrees that guarantee the liberalization of political action and the independence of the judiciary and the protection of national wealth”.

Furthermore, the movement urged the Algerian people to continue the popular movement, while preserving its peaceful, patriotic, and civilized nature in order to guarantee that the reforms and the demands of the people are reflected.

The Muslim Movement in Kuwait Loses Two Seats in the Parliamentary By-Elections

Kuwait’s “Muslim Brothers and Salafists coalition” failed to restore the two seats of former members Jamaan al-Harbash (Muslim brothers) and Waleed al-Tabtabaie (Salafist) in the National Assembly (parliament) by-elections on March 17, 2019.

In the second constituency elections, Bader al-Mulla won 4657 votes, with a slight difference as compared to the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Hamad al-Matar, who received 4616 votes.

In the third constituency, Abdullah al-Kandari won first place with 6705 votes, far ahead of the Salafist candidate Ammar al-Ajami, who received 5173 votes.

With independent candidates joining the National Assembly, the influence of the opposition, whose number of members is no more than 15 out of 50 elected members and 16 ministers (members of the parliament according to the constitution) is diminishing in its ability to pass the legislation it abides by.

Muslim Brotherhood of Syria on the Eighth Anniversary of the Revolution: The Regime is Irredeemable, No Alternative to Freedom

The Syrian Muslim Brotherhood’s General Observer, Muhammad Hikmat Walid, considered that the Syrian revolution has not been defeated and that there is no alternative to freedom in the country, despite the number of victims who fell during the past 8 years.

On this occasion, Muhammad Walid said in an interview with the Kuwaiti Mugtama magazine on March 16, 2019, that the revolution is undergoing a setback, but it is not over. The Assad regime did not win because the end of revolutions only happens when the reasons driving the revolution are over.

“This regime is irreparable. The name of the Syrian regime and its president are linked to real genocide. This genocide was an option and it was not an imposition. It is a disgrace to the West and the world that such people continue to rule,” the Brotherhood’s observer said.

The Brotherhood observer also said that the refugees can only return voluntarily and under the auspices of the United Nations, and criticized the calls for the return of refugees without guarantying minimum security, saying that “within the framework of the rehabilitation of the Assad regime, Syrians are invited to return to what they call ‘homeland’s bosom’ to create the illusion of the end of the war and the return of normal life and to fill the need for the system of forced recruitment and reconstruction”.

He added that there are many countries that are motivated “to gain the enormous economic benefits that will be provided by the reconstruction of Syria”. He added that the Russians are seeking “to delink reconstruction from the political changes to the regime of Bashar al-Assad, and we believe that the criminal should not be rewarded in this way. The reconstruction of Syria must be conditioned by political transition accompanied by a constitutional process and an electoral process in a serious and meaningful manner”.

He also criticized the international stance with regards to the Syrian regime, saying that the international community turned a blind eye to everything the Syrian regime has done against civilians.

In terms of accusing the movement of terrorism, he said, “foreigners have been more just than neighbors who accuse us of being terrorists, and they know we’re not. I urge our brothers who classify us as terrorists to reconsider their decision and consider the long-term interest of their nation”.

Muslim Brotherhood of Egypt on 91 years of its Establishment: We Remain Resilient in Face of Tyranny and Victory is an Hour’s Patience

Mahmoud Ezzat, the deputy supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, called on members of the group in Egypt and abroad to remain steadfast until “victory” is achieved, while at the same time praising the sacrifices they made.

Ezzat said in a letter published on March 24, 2019 on the occasion of the 91-year anniversary of the Brotherhood’s founding: “You, the youth of the Muslim Brotherhood, should be proud of your calling, and always be keen to promote friendship among you, strengthen the pillars of fraternity, and deal with society in a loving spirit, and never despair for despair in not of the qualities of believers and reformers”.

He added: “You must continue your mission no matter how hostile opponents get, for the brotherhood – since its inception – did not declare war on society, nor did it widen the gap that separates it from the people, but advised and filled in the gap and approached and saved its forces against the enemies of God, who declare infidelity and tyranny, and aspire to occupy the country and control the believers”.

He concluded his letter saying, “one must believe that along with every hardship is relief, after the darkness comes dawn, nothing remains as is, victory is an hour’s patience, and do not fear the tyrant and do not forfeit to those who wronged just because of fear of coercion and hardship”.