person:amr darrag

  • Kerry’s pro-army remarks stir controversy in US, Egypt | Mada Masr

    http://madamasr.com/content/kerrys-pro-army-remarks-stir-controversy-us-egypt

    The Egyptian Armed Forces are bringing democracy back to their country, US Secretary of State John Kerry declared on Wednesday.

    “And those kids in Tahrir Square, they were not motivated by any religion or ideology,” Kerry said in statements published on the US Department of State website.

    “They were motivated by what they saw through this interconnected world, and they wanted a piece of the opportunity and a chance to get an education and have a job and have a future.”

    According to the American official, the Egyptian people created the revolution through Facebook and twitter because they were through with the corrupt government, but “then it [revolution] got stolen by the one single-most organized entity in the state, which was the Brotherhood.”

    Some analysts say Kerry’s statements mark a rift within the White House as President Barack Obama’s administration continues to struggle to find a cohesive stance on Egypt. According to an article in the Daily Beast, Kerry was told by the National Security Adviser Susan Rice to take a firm position on deposed President Mohamed Morsi’s trial, which he seems to have ignored in these remarks.

    “[Kerry] made a deliberate and conscious decision not to mention Morsi in his Cairo meetings,” a US government official told the Daily Beast.

    The statement angered certain parties in Egypt. Amr Darrag, leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party, said on Thursday that Kerry’s remarks were proof that the US government supported the “coup” that ousted Morsi, and is trying to abort the revolutionary movements sweeping the region since the 2011 Arab Spring, reported the Turkish Anadol news agency.

    Darrag added that Kerry has no right to meddle in Egypt’s internal affairs, and by no means could he tell who started the January 25 revolution, and who stole it.

    “The role of the MB is evident in all phase of the revolution," Darrag added.

  • Persisting Brothers |
    Interview with Amr Darrag, secretary of foreign relations with the Freedom and Justice Party,
    Mada Masr

    http://www.madamasr.com/content/persisting-brothers

    MM: What would happen to the Brotherhood if the legal proceeding rules its dissolution as a legally registered NGO?

    AD: It’s the least of our concerns. The Brotherhood has existed for more than 80 years, and subject to several crackdowns, yet it came back stronger. It’s not about an organization but an idea.

    It’s the adoption of the basic principles of Islam, which are deeply rooted in Egyptian society. Even if the Brotherhood disappears, somebody else is going to take that idea and call it by some other name.

    The FJP is a two-year-old party. If we could establish it in one or two years with 500,000 people, we can do it again.

    The main concern is democracy and freedom. Through these, everything can be run for all Egyptians.

    MM: Is the regime negotiating with you?

    AD: No, despite claims that they want dialogue. They refer to Ziad Bahaa al-Din’s initiative, but as far as I know there is no initiative.

    The government also said it sent me an invitation to join the 50-member constituent assembly. I never received a letter or a phone call. They have my number.

    When they were forming the government they said they offered us three positions. I never heard of that, and don’t know who they’re talking to.

    In summary, there is no conversation and no negotiations happening.