Egypt's opposition targets reforms

So far, the speeches and activities of Brotherhood parliamentarians emphasize political reform. Their agenda includes demands widely backed by democratic activists: changing legislation that allows journalists to face prison sentences for libel, granting independence to Egypt's judges, and canceling a 25-year-old emergency law that forbids gatherings of more than five people.

"We need economic reform and development, in education and health, but we can't realize this until we have political reform," says Mohamed el-Katatny, the head of the Muslim Brotherhood's parliamentary bloc. The government, meanwhile, emphasizes economic reform with slower-paced political reform.

Not everyone, however, is convinced of the Brotherhood's commitment to democratic change.

"There is a problem of trust when they speak about democracy," says Mahmoud Abaza, chairman of the opposition Wafd's parliamentary bloc. "For 15 years their credo was application of Islamic law. Just in the last two to three years they joined the demand for democracy."

Muslim Brotherhood members, however, argue that Islam encompasses political change. "There is no contradiction between political reform and Islam," says Brotherhood MP Ibrahim. "Human rights come from Islam. Fighting corruption comes from Islam. All these issues stem from Islam."

Some government officials and analysts also complain that the Brotherhood lacks a concrete political program. "The Muslim Brotherhood did not come up with a position on privatization or subsidies or education or health, on any of the major challenges facing this country, compared to this government, which is committed to a program," said Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, speaking to a group of businesspeople in Cairo last Monday.

The Muslim Brotherhood may have its critics, but still the group has come a long way since its beginnings in 1928, eventually giving rise to dozens of extremist Islamic groups, including Hamas and Al Qaeda. In 1954, the Brotherhood was banned after a string of violent attacks,

The ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), however, still maintains a two-thirds majority, giving it alone the right to pass legislation and change the Constitution. Nevertheless, the Brotherhood, together with the also outspoken secular opposition with 12 seats, can still use the parliament as a forum for their opinions.

In any case the Brotherhood says these arrests merely empower them. "We are used to being arrested," says MP Hassan Hamdy Aly. "This won't stop us. It just makes us stronger."

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