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MB: Shura Elections, Setback For Reform

After the resputable Egyptian judiciary ruled that it was constitutional for candidates to run for elections using Islamic slogans . . . we have witnessed another setback in the political and electoral life, which was illustrated on the election day through numerous flagrant violations to the law and constitution, and the security’s repression of voters and denying neutral observers and independent media services access to the polling centres to supervise elections held on June 11.

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Muslim Brotherhood Statement About Shura Council Midterm Elections June, 11, 2007
 
After the resputable Egyptian judiciary ruled that it was constitutional for candidates to run for elections using Islamic slogans . . . we have witnessed another setback in the political and electoral life, which was illustrated on the election day through numerous flagrant violations to the law and constitution, and the security’s repression of voters and denying neutral observers and independent media services access to the polling centres to supervise elections held on June 11.
 
 
These elections have been held under clouded political and media atmospheres and amid the illegal tricks by the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) leading to one single result; making the Egyptian citizens lose any trust in reforms or slogans previously promised by the current regime, and eventually lose their feeling of patriotism towards homeland due to being deprived of exercising their rights as citizens; a result that may have a negative effect on the economic and social development.
 
The magnitude of violations and crimes committed on the day of voting is unprecedented in the history of Egyptian elections. These violations included closing voting centres, denying citizens access to vote, assaulting and beating voters and candidates, threatening and intimidating heads and members of the voting committees, hiring bullies to harass citizens, stuffing rigged ballot cards into ballot boxes for candidates of the ruling NDP candidates. These crimes were preceded by preventing Muslim Brotherhood candidates from campaigning and hanging posters or any other form of campaigning. All these crimes, already documented by several human rights organizations and election watchdogs, prove that the results of these rigged elections do not reflect the will of the Egyptian voters.
 
These elections were the first test of the defective and notorious constitutional amendments, which were not approved by the Egyptian people who boycotted them in a referendum whose turnout was only 3-5% of the registered voters.
 
 
What led to this full rigging of elections were preventing the judicial supervision over them, maintaining the state of emergency, and the control of the Interior Ministry over the election process, bypassing the Higher Election Committee, all this amid a full absence of a serious political will towards reform.  

Insisting on carrying out its political rights and duties as citizens, the Muslim Brotherhood warns the ruling regime against maintaining this repressive dictatorial behaviour that turned the constituencies that included Muslim Brotherhood candidates into military barracks that besieged all citizens and prevented them from going about their normal life on the day of elections.
 
 
We declare that we will continue serving our country, sacrificing everything for its progress and prosperity, and we will press for reaching a comprehensive reform in all fields, topped by the political reform, so as to elect parliaments that express the free will of the Egyptians and to make people’s voice heard in its constitutional institutions.

All legal procedures are underway to challenge this election farce that defamed the reputation of Egypt and exposed the weak regime which can’t deal with the Egyptian people with credibility and transparency. There is a full documentation of all the violations committed in most constituencies, which will be handed to different civil society institutions, NGOs and Human Rights Organizations inside and outside the country to expose the oppressive practices of this regime that fights its own people and undermines the stability of the country.
 
We reaffirm to our people, and to our nation, that their efforts and  positiveness will bear fruits and the regime’s wrong policies will not continue for ever. We will continue our cooperation with the people to end such injustice by all peaceful and legal means. . .
 
 
The Muslim Brotherhood  Cairo on:
24 Jumada I 1428 Hijri
11 June 2007