MB desperate for new General Guide

Douaa Emam

The International Organisation of the Muslim Brotherhood is looking for a successor to its General Guide Mohamed Badie, who has been given sentences, including life imprisonment and execution, after he was convicted of criminal and murder charges. However, according to the legal system in Egypt, Badie is standing retrial before the Cassation Court (the highest court in Egypt). Badie’s imprisonment led the MB to appoint its fugitive powerful member Mahmoud Ezzat the acting General Guide.

Ibrahim Munir, an 81-year old, is allegedly the best qualified candidate for the group’s top authority. Speculations over Munir’s  nomination increased in the past few weeks after the high-profile member, who is living abroad permanently, stepped up defence to the integrity of the organisation categorised as terrorist group in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Russia.

In his latest propgandising campaign on Oct. 24, Munir alleged that the MB was committed to condemning extremism.  Four days earlier, Munir renewed his attack on the Egyptian government. Encouraging the frustrated members at home and abroad to hold on, Munir alleged that the MB would rise again and pursue its goals and ambitions.

Under pressure from the Turkish government, Munir had to withdraw a statement he gave to disassociate the Saudi royal family from the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Changing his mind, Munir held the Saudi government responsible for Khashoggi’s murder.

But an eminent researcher of the Islamist movements discounted speculations that Munir would be picked to officially undertake the organisation’s responsibility. Dr. Ahmed Rabie el-Ghazali told The Reference that the terrorist organisation was looking for a new skipper, who could help piece together the organisation’s shattered image. “But Munir will not be the pick,” he stressed.

The researcher explained that the MB was no longer interested in old faces, including Ibrahim Munir. “These faces had failed to attract attention,” Dr. el-Ghazali said. He explained that these faces had lost that kind of credibility, which could help the organisation rise from the ashes of its death. Dr. el-Ghazali’s old faces also included media people mobilised to run anti-Egypt television channels the organisation broadcast in Turkey.

According to Dr. el-Ghazli, the MB must be in search for a new General Guide in its quarry of influential members kept in obscurity. “The MB is quarrying away in the list of the names of those members, who, regardless of their influence, are kept secret,” Dr. el-Ghazali said. “These unknown leaders know everything associated with the MB and its external relations,” the researcher said.

Ibrahim Munir pledged loyalty to the General Guide at an early age. He was 17 years old in 1954 when he was arrested for the first time. Munir was sentenced to 10 years in 1965 for taking part in attempts to overthrow the regime in Egypt. After his release, he migrated to London. He  played a big role in the formation of the MB’s International League based in London.

According to the MB’s rules, the organisation’s Shura Council (advisory council) is empowered to elect the General Guide. However, if the Shura Council’s members failed to convene for security reasons, the organisation’s Guidance Office will have the authority to pick the General Guide. The candidate should be at least 45 years old. In addition, the nominee should have 15 years in serving the group. The elected General Guide appoints one or more deputies.