Leaked Message From Son of Morsi’s Aide Deepens 'Brotherhood Crises' Abroad

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)
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Leaked Message From Son of Morsi’s Aide Deepens 'Brotherhood Crises' Abroad

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)

A leaked message from the son of Essam El-Haddad, aide to former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, on the Brotherhood’s political future, deepened the crises of the organization abroad.

According to the researcher in the affairs of fundamentalist movements in Egypt, Amr Abdel Moneim, “[the leaked message] reveals the distress of the organization, which is facing a major deadlock within its internal structure.”

He noted that the message will open disputes within the Istanbul Front led by Mahmoud Hussein, the former Secretary-General of the organization.

According to Al-Arabiya channel website, Abdullah Al-Haddad, son of Essam Al-Haddad, Mohamed Morsi’s assistant for foreign affairs, demanded the release of his father imprisoned in Egypt, in exchange for a pledge to quit politics and stop engaging in any related activities.

In an article published on a local Egyptian website, Abdullah said that Morsi’s death “ended a painful chapter in Egypt’s modern history.”

“His death became a clear statement that the new local and regional political landscape will not allow for a recurrence of any form of political activity like that which occurred between 2012 and 2013,” he stated.

Abdullah added that his father belonged to a past political era that has ended, in reference to the Brotherhood rule.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abdel Moneim said that Al-Haddad family used many of such methods during the last period to pressure Egypt to release Essam and his son Jihad.

Essam Al-Haddad was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the case of “espionage with foreign parties.” He was a member of the Brotherhood’s Guidance Office, and was appointed as Morsi’s assistant for foreign affairs during the Brotherhood’s rule in 2013. He obtained British citizenship. As for his son, Jihad, he was responsible for foreign relations and the chief advisor to the organization’s Al-Nahda project.

Regarding the “leaked letter”, Abdel Moneim said that it was “an attempt to gain international sympathy with Al-Haddad family.”

He added that the message will raise disputes within the Istanbul front and will open room for many questions about the situation of the organization there, especially that Essam’s brother, Medhat, is one of the leaders of the Brotherhood in Turkey.



Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
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Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Friday Hezbollah to engage with the Lebanese army and devise a plan to dismantle its military infrastructure south and north of the Litani river.

In a press conference Friday, Geagea criticized Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel and accused the Shiite group of committing a “major crime” against the Lebanese people.

“We could have done without the martyrdom of more than 4,000 people, the displacement of thousands and the destruction across the country,” he said. “Despite all these tragedies, Hezbollah continues to talk about a victory using a bizarre and disconnected logic that has no basis in reality.”

Geagea’s comments came two days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. More than 3,900 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated.

Geagea, whose Lebanese Forces Party holds the largest bloc in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament, also addressed Lebanon’s presidential deadlock. The country has been without a president for more than two years.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a session for presidential elections in January. "Consultations with opposition factions and our allies will begin in the coming days to explore the possibility of agreeing on presidential candidates and bringing them to parliament,” Geagea said.