History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt

:This article refers to the Egyptian organisation called the Muslim Brotherhood; for other organisations that use the same name, see the Muslim Brotherhood article.

1954-present

For details, see the main History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt (1954-present) article.

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During Nasser's rule, many members of the Brotherhood were held for years in prisons and concentration camps, where they were systematically tortured. One of these was the writer Sayyid Qutb, who became the Brotherhood's most influential thinker for a time; he argued for a gradual preparation for violent revolution, to overthrow a state that he viewed as anti-Muslim. Qutb was sentenced to death in 1966. Over the next few years, the Brotherhood's leadership distanced itself from his revolutionary ideology, adhering instead to a nonviolent reformist strategy, to which it has remained strongly committed ever since. During the presidency of Anwar al-Sadat, the imprisoned Brothers were gradually released; since then, the organisation has been tolerated to an extent, but remains illegal and is subjected to periodic crackdowns.

Related Topics:
Concentration camps - Sayyid Qutb - 1966 - Reformist - Anwar al-Sadat

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In the 1970s, a large student Islamic activist movement took shape, independently from the Brotherhood. In the 1980s, during Hosni Mubarak's presidency, many of these activists joined the Brotherhood, enabling it to win a number of elections to the executive boards of prominent professional associations. In order to quell the Brotherhood's renewed influence, the government again resorted to harsh repressive measures starting in 1992. Despite mass arrests, police harassment and an essentially closed political system, Brotherhood candidates have made strong showings in several parliamentary elections. In the past decade, the Brotherhood has made repeated calls for a more democratic political system, and in 2005 it has participated in pro-democracy demonstrations with the Kifaya movement.

Related Topics:
1970s - 1980s - Hosni Mubarak - 1992 - 2005 - Kifaya

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