CAIRO -
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's statements - in which he spoke about his position on what he called "the element" and at other times the "thought" that has existed for 90 years
-
did not pass without supporters and opponents interacting widely on social media, as estimates differed. about their intended meaning.
During his speech at the launch ceremony of the National Strategy for Human Rights, last Saturday, Sisi said that "for 90 years, society has been imbued with a specific thought," adding, "By the way, I am not different with these people, but on the condition that they respect my path and do not intersect with me and do not target me."
He continued, "This is his idea, (in reference to the group that he did not name) I will not say that I will respect his idea, but I will accept it, but he does not impose it on me and does not pressure me with it, and does not turn the course of his thought towards me, not on me but on Egypt and society."
The Egyptian presidency described the National Human Rights Strategy, which was launched last Saturday, as "the first integrated and long-term strategy in the field of human rights in Egypt, as it includes the development of state policies and directions in dealing with a number of related files and building on the actual progress achieved during the past years." .
# Sisi says during the conference launching the "#human_rights_strategy" that he accepts the existence of "the thought that colored society 90 years ago" on conditions pic.twitter.com/bUBY7A61GX
- Al Jazeera Egypt (@AJA_Egypt) September 11, 2021
controversy of reconciliation
Al-Sisi’s statement that he accepts the existence of the “thought” that molded society 90 years ago on conditions, some saw as a reference to the ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has been present on the Egyptian scene since almost that date.
Al-Sisi’s speech sparked controversy over the intended message, as some considered it an opening for dialogue and reconciliation between the government and the Brotherhood, while others saw it as an affirmation of Sisi’s constant criticism of the Brotherhood and his rejection of the idea of reconciliation with the group that he had previously emphasized.
Egyptian journalist and dissident Gamal Sultan went on to say that Sisi “opened the door to reconciliation with the Brotherhood in his speech,” and some followed suit, adding in a tweet to him on Twitter, “And he declared acceptance of their presence, but with three conditions, recognizing his authority and legitimacy, and not standing in his way or They dispute the ruling, and do not criticize him.”
Al-Sisi opened the door to reconciliation with the Brotherhood in his speech today, and announced the acceptance of their presence, on three conditions he set:
1 - They respect my path: surrender to his authority and legitimacy
2 - They do not intersect with me: Do not stand in my way or dispute the ruling
3 - Do not target me: Do not criticize me #National_Strategy_for_Human_Rights
— Jamal Sultan (@GamalSultan1) September 11, 2021
A controversial statement from Abdel-Fattah #Sisi made it today, where he said: I accept the existence of the thought that has molded society for 90 years and that I do not disagree with them, but on the condition that they respect my path and do not intersect with me and do not target me.
What is meant by his speech is the Brotherhood's ideology.
Will the Brotherhood return to political work in Egypt?
pic.twitter.com/1XMgQeX69A
— 🇪🇬Dr.
Omar El shazly 🇳🇱 (@OmarElshazly92) September 11, 2021
Political science professor Khairy Omar stressed that the element that has existed in Egypt for 90 years is the "ideology of the Brotherhood," noting that he "noted that there was a difference in President Sisi's speech regarding the part of the Muslim Brotherhood movement."
In a post on his Facebook page, Omar said that Sisi's speech makes it clear that it can be accepted (the Brotherhood) only if it accepts the path of the state.
However, the former Egyptian parliamentarian, Mohamed Emad Saber, saw that Sisi’s statements would not change anything, and pointed out that “some Brotherhood’s analysis of Sisi’s words indicates a wish on the part of some of them, and a desire to end the crisis, even if the Brotherhood recognizes Sisi.”
In a post on his Facebook page, he added that Sisi does not know the covered messages;
He said years ago frankly about his position on the Brotherhood and the Brotherhood's thought, and it was a stronger and clearer statement than what he referred to recently.
As for the journalist writer Qutb al-Arabi, he saw that Sisi’s talk about the Brotherhood was contradictory, and said on his Facebook page, “He accuses them more than once in his speech of having planted extremism in Egyptian society for 90 years, and then in another paragraph he says that he accepts this thought provided that they confess and not to stand in his way and not to impose their ideology on Egyptian society.”
On the other hand, activists refused to consider that Sisi's speech opens a door for reconciliation and dialogue with the Brotherhood, citing previous statements by Sisi, but which are more clear in his rejection of reconciliation.
Others said that the Brotherhood no longer had papers that it could present to Sisi if the expectations of the call for reconciliation were true, noting that Sisi’s talk about accepting this thought came only in the context of his talk about accepting all beliefs, even atheists.
The Brotherhood interprets Sisi's statements yesterday on the grounds that it is a call for reconciliation with them.
And on the controversial assumption that I do not admit that he intended this, but what do the Brotherhood have to offer now to Sisi for the sake of reconciliation!?
The brothers do not have any cards to negotiate with the regime.. This matter was possible 8 years ago, or now it is impossible 👌🏻
— Ehab El Refaey (@lo_ehab) September 13, 2021
If Sisi offered reconciliation
with the Brotherhood in
exchange for recognition,
would the Brotherhood accept and
forget their dead, they
would agree, for the
Brotherhood has been urging
security for reconciliation
for 4 years
,
and
Sisi refuses,
and the reason for the conflict
between the Brotherhood and the military
is a miscalculation by the Brotherhood
of Sisi’s strength.
The Brotherhood is not a jihadist group,
they are a group of financial and elite interests
— Mustafa Ghaly (@235223522352m) September 13, 2021
Supporters of the regime aligned themselves with Sisi's talk about the "element" that gnaws at the body of the state, and said that he meant the Muslim Brotherhood, in saying that "there were more challenges with an element that has been going on for nearly 90 years and has been eroding the bones, mind and consciousness of man in Egypt."
And they considered that Sisi’s position on the group did not and will not change, and the evidence is that they continued to characterize them without naming them as the elements that corrupt and corrode society, after years of referring to them as “evil” and “evil people.”
A very strong message from His Excellency, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, today, El-Sisi
warned against destroying countries, which turns peoples into refugees, stressing that the Brotherhood has been eating away at the body, mind, and awareness of human beings in Egypt for 90 years, adding that the groups that gnaw at the state formed a culture of suspicion and mistrust. #Egypt pic.twitter.com/PQJYubV2ER
— Ahdeya Ahmed AlSayed (@AhdeyaAhmed) September 11, 2021