It has taken around six months for the deposed tyrant Hosni Mubarak to finally appear in court to face ‘justice’ before the nation. The Egyptian state-run media—an obedient tongue of the military junta—greeted Mubarak’s court appearance with extraordinary headlines: “Mubarak in the cage … Now the revolution has succeeded,” blurted Al-Akhbar and “Mubarak and his regime present in the grip of justice,” wrote the Al-Ahram.
Egyptians, who for many years have lived under the tyranny of Mubarak’s rule were captivated by his presence in court. But for most Egyptians, Mubarak, guilty of heinous crimes, felt he deserved to be executed. According to a recent online poll conducted by the company YouGov, 60% of Egyptians wanted him executed. This is understandable, as ordinary Egyptians have a long litany of complaints that speak volumes against the despot. Routine torture, false imprisonment, extra judicial killing of political opponents are among many that top the list. However, the nation could barely conceal their disgust when it emerged that after Mubarak’s removal the wretched dictator had amassed an enormous personal fortune estimated to be in the region of $70 billion— all at the expense of his people who lived in squalor and abject poverty.
The public show casing of the trial is no accident, but a desperate attempt by his erstwhile friends in the military to save their own skins and extend protection to America’s waning hegemony over Egypt. At first, the military pretended to be the ‘guardians of the revolution’, but in the months that followed, Egyptians came to realize that the military had supplanted Mubarak— through a bloodless coup— only to continue with the same draconian laws and pro-American policies that were the hallmark of the Mubarak era.
In fact, America has been extremely active in orchestrating changes on the ground to deflect the momentum of the revolution and accommodate the Islamic aspirations of the millions of Egyptians. The latter is America’s real concern. In April 2011, a Pew poll highlighted that 60% of the population wanted Islamic law. In fact, so deeply ingrained is the desire for Islam amongst Egyptians that Egypt’s widely circulated newspaper Al-Ahram continues to carry its increasingly pro-Islamic editorials; on the 8th of August 2011 it read ‘Sharia state would preserve life, justice’. None of this bodes well for the longevity of America’s control over Egyptian affairs.
Unsurprisingly then, is to find American officials tampering with the ongoing constitutional reforms, preparations for the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, aid to civilian groups and the recent deployment of the Egyptian army in North Sinai to prevent unwarranted disruption of gas supply to the Jewish State. Additionally, America through its agency USAID has hitherto this year, channeled $105 million towards nurturing civil institutions and civilian groups to champion pro-American reforms.
Egyptians, who have thrown away the shackles of fear, laid bare their chests in front of security forces and resounded on the military junta’s ties with America have quickly become threats to Washington’s strategists. The Egyptian public is incensed by this blatant American interference to shape the new political landscape. This has forced the army to take a strong stance against them. The military has waded into the debate by describing the recipients of these US funds as activists funded by foreigners. However, this puts the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) that is presiding over Egypt in an ugly predicament. The United States has given Egypt an average of $2 billion annually since 1979, much of it military aid, according to the Congressional Research Service. The combined total makes Egypt the second largest recipient of U.S. aid after Israel. In 2010, $1.3 billion went to strengthen Egyptian forces versus $250 million in economic aid. Egypt also receives hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of excess military hardware annually from the Pentagon.
In other words, ordinary Egyptians are not only able see through the hypocrisy of SCAF, but more significantly are growing more anti-American and are venting their fury at SCAF through daily demonstrations. Furthermore, the military is undermining its own credibility as an honest broker ahead of the upcoming elections by cozying up to Washington. The recent visit of Major General Mohamed El-Assar to Washington only serves to underscore in the eyes of Egyptians that the scope and magnitude of the military’s ties with America is not in the interest of the nation. The stench of this relationship is no longer bearable for many, but in the near term the nexus between SCAF and America is expected to survive.
This is because what allows the US and her surrogate the Egyptian military to continue to have an upper hand over Egyptians is that the opposition is divided, and is to some degree leaderless too. Indeed, there is the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed ElBaradei, Amr Musa and others. But these so-called leaders are becoming increasingly unappealing to the Egyptian masses because of their close associations with foreign powers and their ever-shifting opinions on the role of Islam in society. Within in this context, it important for the Egyptian masses to coalesce around a common agenda that helps them distinguish between those leaders that can really liberate Egypt from the clutches of colonialism As opposed to those leaders who covet to use Islam to ensure the continuity of American hegemony. Below are some demands, which should be put forward to those who aspire to be the leaders of Egypt, so as to understand their vision and ideological orientation.
1- Shariah must replace all forms of criminal and civilian law. Economics, ruling, and foreign relations must be governed in accordance with Islamic law.
2- All foreign embassies, particularly those of America, Britain and France should be closed, and their personnel asked to leave the country immediately. All diplomatic channels with these countries must be terminated.
3- Egyptian army must renounce US military aid and sever its links with the American army. All US army personnel and those of other Western powers should be escorted out of the country.
4- Egypt must forsake all forms economic assistance from Western institutions such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Word Bank, as well as, the lending institution associated with the European Union.
5- Billions of dollars usurped by Mubarak and his acolytes must be placed in a trust, and disbursed according to Shariah rules for the benefit of the Egyptian people.
6- Egypt should actively block those Western powers from using the Suez Canal that are in an active state of war with the Muslim world.
7- Egypt must renege on its treaty with Israel, cut all diplomatic ties, stop the sale of gas and treat the Jewish state as the enemy of Muslims. Furthermore, Egypt should take all measures to liberate Palestine from the Zionist occupation.
8- Egypt must initiate steps to break down the artificial colonial borders with Sudan and Libya, and unify with these countries to form a single Islamic state.
9- Egypt must treat the Christians as dhimmis, and extend all forms of protection to safeguard their religion, property and wealth.
O Muslims of Egypt!
Use these demands as criteria to measure the sincerity to Islam of those who aspire to lead you. If they deviate even an inch then know they are not worthy of leading you. If they adhere to these demands then rally around them.
You have already sacrificed much, and many of your brothers and sisters have had their pure blood spilt, and some have become Shaheed. But during this sacred month of Ramadan when the doors of Jannah are open and Allah’s سبحانه وتعالى mercy is in abundance, you need to increase your efforts and excel in your sacrifice, and campaign tirelessly for the above demands to be met. Allah reminds us in the Quran:
قُلْ إِنْ كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُمْ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِي
“Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your mates, or your kindred; the wealth that ye have gained; the commerce in which ye fear a decline: or the dwellings in which ye delight – are dearer to you than Allah, or His Apostle, or the striving in His cause;- then wait until Allah brings about His decision: and Allah guides not the rebellious.” [Taubah, 9:24]
O Muslims of Egypt!
Remember your rich Islamic history and how your forefathers stood firm for Allah’s cause in the face of great adversity, without flinching an inch and refusing to compromise their Islam. Allah says:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ
“O you who Believe. If you help Allah, Allah will help you; and establish your feet firmly.” [Muhammad, 47:7]
Remember there is no life better then the life under the Islamic system, which can only be implemented through the re-establishment of Khilafah Rashida. And only then total submission and obedience to Allah سبحانه وتعالى will be complete.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ يَحُولُ بَيْنَ الْمَرْءِ وَقَلْبِهِ وَأَنَّهُ إِلَيْهِ تُحْشَرُونَ
“O you who believe, answer (the call of) Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life, and know that Allah intervenes between a person and his heart, and that to Him you shall be gathered.” [Al-Anfal, 8:24]