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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
Cairo - Waleed Abdulrahman

Media War Deepens Division Among Muslim Brotherhood’s Foreign Fronts

Muslim Brotherhood trial in Egypt (File photo: AFP)

Muslim Brotherhood of foreign fronts exchanged accusations after the conflict arose between the “Istanbul Front” led by former Sec-Gen Mahmoud Hussein and the “London Front” led by acting leader Ibrahim Munir.

The crisis heightened after the London Front formed a new Shura Council, dismissing six members of the Istanbul Shura, including Hussein himself.

The new council replaced the one in Istanbul. It was elected in the presence of officials residing in Turkey and affiliated with the Istanbul Front and several leaders living in European countries.

In response, the Istanbul Front issued a statement claiming that “Munir’s front weakens and divides the Brotherhood,” accusing it of using social media to publish false allegations and information.

The Brotherhood's Guidance Office in London recently ignited the dispute after it called upon the "Istanbul Front" to offer allegiance to Munir as the acting leader.

The Istanbul Shura Council formed the "Acting Committee of the General Shura" led by Mustafa Tolba and dismissed Munir from his position.

In response, the “London Front” dismissed Tolba, declaring in a statement that it “did not recognize the decisions of the Istanbul Front or the so-called General Shura Council.”

It asserted that “the organization’s legitimacy is represented by Munir only, and that any assignment to Tolba requires accountability,” adding that the committee in question is invalid.

Istanbul Front responded in a statement confirming its adherence to the General Shura Council of the organization in Istanbul, calling on all its members to “abide by the decisions of the Shura.”

It stressed that “Mustafa Tolba will remain in his position,” rejecting Munir’s decision to dismiss him.

Notably, Munir previously dissolved the Administrative Office for Organization Affairs in Turkey and dismissed Hussein and others for creating the crisis by announcing the "Hussein Group" more than once to dismiss the current leader.

Expert in the affairs of fundamentalist movements in Egypt, Ahmed Zaghloul said that the two fronts are in conflict now amid strong divisions, with each side claiming legitimacy.

Zaghloul told Asharq Al-Awsat that the only option for the Brotherhood abroad is to exchange accusations through statements to settle organizational issues and manage personal differences.

Muslim Brotherhood no longer has any political project, especially with its issues with several countries and losing all power and influence, stated Zaghloul, adding that both groups have no choice but to mobilize the media.

Zaghloul believes this would continue in the coming period, pointing out that “it has been going on for a while,” noting that the organization is now weak without any political project.

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