Gamaa Islamiya Calls For Political Solution To Egypt’s Crisis

Egypt’s ultraconservative Islamist group Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya called for a political solution that is not “security related” to Egypt’s ongoing deadlock following the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July.

“Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya and its [political arm] Building and Development Party calls on all groups within the current crisis to reach a political solution away from oppressive security measures, which have caused further division during a time in which Egyptians long for a more developed safe and independent country to live in,” said the group in a statement released Sunday.

The group called on Egyptians, on the eve of the Islamic holiday of Eid Al-Adha and the start of the pilgrimage season, to “pray that the country’s sons, whether politicians, military men, media figures or ordinary citizens, would find a way to resolve their differences and uphold the values of freedom and participation away from exclusion and hate.”

The National Alliance to Support Legitimacy (NASL), an Islamist coalition supporting Morsi, of which Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya is a leading member, has called for mass demonstrations under the slogan “pray for Egypt” on Monday, which marks the Islamic Arafat day, to continue to denounce Morsi’s overthrow and the continuing crackdown on pro-Morsi protests.

Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya has been the primary ally of the Muslim Brotherhood – from which Morsi hails – through the 30 June mass protests leading to his ouster by the military, which the NASL considers a military ‘coup’ against the former elected president.

On Sunday 6 October, 57 protesters were killed during a crackdown on pro-Morsi rallies in Cairo and several other governorates, with further clashes expected over the upcoming Eid Al-Adha holidays.

Source : Ahram