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Escalating Disputes Between Muslim Brotherhood Abroad Impede Reconciliation Attempts

The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)
The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)
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Escalating Disputes Between Muslim Brotherhood Abroad Impede Reconciliation Attempts

The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)
The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions. (Reuters file photo)

The disputes between the Muslim Brotherhood’s Istanbul and London branches witnessed a “significant escalation”, after the organization’s “General Shura Council” formed a committee to assume leadership functions, and removed Ibrahim Munir from his position.

Over the past weeks, the Muslim Brotherhood saw a recurring struggle to resolve the “battle of managing the organization” abroad, between the branches in Istanbul and London.

The Istanbul Front, led by Mahmoud Hussein, the former secretary general of the organization, announced the dismissal of Munir, who leads the London Front, as the Brotherhood’s acting guide.

In a statement on Friday, the Istanbul Front said that its “General Shura Council” decided to form a temporary committee from among its members, to carry out the tasks of the “General Guide” for a period of six months. The new committee members would be announced at a time specified by the council.

According to the statement, “the committee started its work, and announced the designation of Mustafa Tolba as its official representative.”

Commenting on the developments, Amr Abdel Moneim, a researcher in fundamentalist affairs in Egypt, noted that the latest announcement by the Shura Council confirmed “the failure of all attempts to heal the rift within the organization.”

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abdel Moneim said: “The organization is now witnessing a state of uncertainty, lack of clarity of vision, confusion, data war, and internal rift.”

Disputes between the Istanbul and London fronts deepened after Munir announced the dissolution of the Administrative Office for Organization Affairs in Turkey, and the dismissal of Mahmoud Hussein and others. The crisis further escalated with Hussein’s announcement of Munir’s dismissal from his post.

The Shura Council’s decisions were preceded by a conference held in Turkey, which saw an agreement to form a committee to support the new acting leader.

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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
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Baghdad Urges Washington to Prevent ‘Imminent’ Israeli Strikes

Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)
Sudani visiting a market in Baghdad on Thursday (Government media)

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani on Thursday called on major powers to “exert greater efforts to end the war in Palestine and Lebanon.” Meanwhile, an Iraqi government official urged the United States to “prevent any attacks on the country,” referring to potential Israeli strikes.
During a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Al-Sudani stressed the importance of ensuring the conflict does not escalate “to a level that threatens regional and global stability.”
The Iraqi prime minister’s appeal comes amid reports suggesting that Israel may launch strikes on Iraq in retaliation for attacks by Iraqi armed factions targeting Israeli positions.
The Iraqi government is striving to assert its exclusive authority over weapons and war-related decisions. However, armed factions affiliated with the Axis of Resistance openly claim responsibility for near-daily rocket attacks on Israel. This has provided Israel with a justification for potentially targeting Iraqi territory, especially after it filed a complaint with the UN Security Council against six Iraqi factions and held Baghdad responsible for the attacks.
These factions have also openly declared their involvement in the ongoing conflict with Israel in Lebanon and Gaza. The Iraqi government has been unable to take decisive action to halt the activities of these factions, which many believe could soon expose Iraq to an Israeli strike.
According to media reports, Washington has warned Baghdad that Israeli airstrikes on Iraq are “imminent” unless the Iraqi government curtails attacks by Iranian-backed factions on Israel. The Times of Israel cited sources indicating that the United States has “exhausted all means of pressure on Israel” and urged Iraq to act swiftly to prevent such attacks.
Despite repeated assurances from the Iraqi government—including its recent adoption of 12 measures by the National Security Council to counter Israeli threats and complaints—the situation remains tense. These measures include monitoring Iraq’s western borders, preventing factions from launching attacks, and maintaining Iraq’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.
On Wednesday, Abu Hussein Al-Hamidawi, Secretary-General of Kata’ib Hezbollah, made a striking statement on the role of resistance factions in the war and their commitment to the Unity of Fronts doctrine frequently mentioned by Axis of Resistance groups.
In an interview published by the faction’s media arm, Al-Hamidawi said: “The continuity of the Unity of Fronts concept depends on what the Lebanese Hezbollah decides.”
Al-Hamidawi also emphasized that resistance factions are constantly coordinating internally and with external partners such as Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Palestinian resistance leaders.
“We aim to ensure that the Palestinian people are not left alone and that the Unity of Fronts remains intact,” he stated.
Fadi Al-Shammari, a political advisor to Sudani, reiterated that Israel’s threats “are not new,” citing the recent complaint filed by Israel with the UN Security Council as part of its pattern of issuing threats.
In media statements, Al-Shammari reaffirmed the Iraqi government’s long-standing position: “The decision of war and peace lies solely with the Iraqi government.”
He noted that the factions’ attacks are being launched from areas outside Iraq’s borders, specifically from Syria. However, he stressed that the Iraqi government is working through its security and military agencies to prevent Iraq from becoming a battlefield for external or internal parties.
Al-Shammari also called on the United States to fulfill its responsibilities under the Strategic Framework Agreement and security pact with Iraq, emphasizing the need to deter and respond to any external attacks that threaten Iraq’s internal security.