Contradictory statements released by the Muslim Brotherhood over the past two days concerning means of confrontation with the Egyptian government have added to analysts’ speculations about an internal conflict between the group’s older leaderships and the younger generation.
A statement signed by detained Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, and obtained by Al-Masry Al-Youm, stressed that the group remain committed to peaceful protests against the incumbent government which ousted the group’s regime in 2013.
In the statement bearing his alleged signature, which was also screened by the Qatari-owned, pro-Brotherhood al-Jazeera channel, the Brotherhood’s top leader renounced calls for armed confrontation with the government.
Another document released by the Muslim Brotherhood’s official website ikhwanonline.com, however, stressed that no statements had been made by Badie, who is facing a death sentence over charges of inciting violence following the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi.
The website, now controlled by younger Brotherhood figures, said it does not recognize any statements except those made by the website or its official spokesperson.
News reports have recently highlighted a clash between the group’s older leaders located abroad, who insist on peaceful means of protests, and the younger ranks who call for open options dealing with the government’s crackdown on the now-banned organization.
Sources close to the group have told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the new, younger leadership is looking to freeze the membership of their older bosses, most notably its secretary general, Mahmoud Hussein.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
