Egypt Daily Update- August 2: Brotherhood Critical of Kerry’s Remarks

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August 2, 2013

Muslim Brotherhood Criticizes Kerry’s Remarks
Deputy Sec. Burns Visiting Cairo
Muslim Brotherhood Remain Defiant in Front of Plans to Disperse Sit-ins
Grand Imam of al-Azhar Insists Dialogue Egypt’s only Option
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Muslim Brotherhood Criticizes Kerry’s Remarks
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the Egyptian army was “restoring democracy” when they acted to remove Mohamed Morsi last month. Kerry responded to a question on why the U.S. has not taken a clear stance against military intervention in Egypt saying, “The military was asked to intervene by millions and millions of people, all of whom were afraid of a descendance into chaos, into violence. And the military did not take over, to the best of our judgment so – so far. To run the country, there’s a civilian government. In effect, they were restoring democracy.”Muslim Brotherhood leaders were quick to criticize Kerry’s remarks. Speaking to Reuters, Senior Brotherhood official Mohamed Bishr said, “We totally reject these statements and we are very disappointed in them … The United States is a country that speaks of democracy and human rights and they say something like that. I hope that they rethink their position and correct it.” Brotherhood spokesman Gehad al-Haddad questioned Kerry’s statement, asking, “Is it the job of the army to restore democracy?”

Sources
“Interview with Hamid Mir of Geo TV,” State Department (English) 8/2/13
“Kerry: Army intervened to save democracy,” Egypt Independent (English) 8/2/13
“Brotherhood Denounces Kerry’s Statement on Egypt,” Ahram Online (English) 8/2/13
“US Gives Seal of Approval to Egypt’s New Leaders,” Aswat Masriya (English) 8/2/13
“Muslim Brotherhood Criticizes Kerry’s Endorsement of Morsi Overthrow,” Aswat Masriya (English) 8/2/13
“El-Haddad Rejects Kerry’s Restoring Democracy Statement,” Daily News Egypt (English) 8/2/13

Deputy Sec. Burns Visiting Cairo
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State William Burns is expected to arrive in Egypt this evening for more talks with Egyptian interim Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy. This is Burns’ second visit to Egypt since the military deposed Mohamed Morsi. Burns visit comes amid heightened security concerns in the region, after the U.S. State Department announced that U.S. embassies in the region will be closed on Sunday due to security concerns. The American embassy in Cairo announced that it will close today and it will remain closed through Sunday. In other news, reports continue to spread that the U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson will be nominated to a high level position in the State Department. Outgoing Syrian ambassador Robert Ford is also rumored to be Patterson’s replacement. El-Watan reported that the American Ambassadors to UAE and Jordan are also being considered for the position.

Sources

“Deputy Secretary Burns’ Travel to Cairo,” State Department (English) 8/2/13
“Today Burns Visits Cairo for Second time in Two Weeks,” Shorouk (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Senior US Diplomat Due in Cairo,” Aswat Masriya (English) 8/2/13
“Anatolia: Burns Visiting Egypt tonight, Second Time after Morsi’s Removal,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Patterson Nominated for High Position in the State Department and Robert Ford Nominated to Replace Her,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Diplomat: Patterson to leave Egypt soon, American Ambassadors in Jordan and the Emirates are Front Running Candidates,” el-Watan (Arabic) 8/2/13
“US Embassy in Cairo to Close for Three Days,” Ahram Online (English) 8/2/13
“US Embassy to Close its Doors on Monday and Warns it Citizens to Avoid Demonstrations,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“US to Close Embassies Sunday over Security Fears: State Dept,” Daily News Egypt (English) 8/2/13

Muslim Brotherhood Remains Defiant in Front of Plans to Disperse Sit-Ins
The Muslim Brotherhood is defying government requests that they leave ongoing sit-ins. In the face of the interim cabinet’s announcement that the security forces will disperse two large Muslim Brotherhood sponsored sit-ins, the group has organized rallies to take place today. In a statement, the Muslim Brotherhood said their supporters “will continue in spite of threats, and will not be made to back down from their right to peaceful protests and sit-ins, regardless of the strength of their opposition.” Despite Egypt’s security forces promising protection to any demonstrators who would leave the sit-ins, the pro-Morsi crowds have remained. Today there are many expected rallies in support of the Muslim Brotherhood. Security officials have cleared the way for at least one pro-Morsi march toward the sit-in at Raba Adawiya.

Sources
“Security Forces Open Way to Raba for Brotherhood Rally, Strengthen Precautions around al-Nahda,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Thousands of Morsi Supporters Launch Rally from Istiqaama to al-Nahda,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Morsi Supporters Continue Demos Despite Police Warning,” Ahram Online (English) 8/2/13
“Islamist Plan Mass Rallies Against Military Coup Friday,” Aswat Masriya (English) 8/2/13
“Islamist Coalition Says Protests will Continue,” Aswat Masriya (English) 8/2/13
“Morsi Supporters March Again,” Daily News Egypt (English) 8/2/13
“Morsi Supporters Plan Fresh Rallies Defy Police,” Egypt Independent (English) 8/2/13
“Dozens in Tahrir Demanding Civilian Court for Brotherhood Leadership,” Shorouk (Arabic) 8/2/13

Grand Imam of al-Azhar Insists Dialogue Only Option for Egypt
Al-Azhar’s leading figure Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayyeb commented on the current political impasse in Egypt on Friday. According to al-Masry al-Youm and the Egypt Independent, al-Tayyeb rejects “the use of violence and the incitement of it, [which] are not a substitute for a political solution.” He also stressed that “the state is responsible for protecting the right to demonstrate peacefully and dialogue is the only exit to the current situation in Egypt.” Tayyeb’s remarks come on day after the UN announced the peaceful protests should be allowed to continue in Egypt. In related news, al-Ahram Arabic is reporting that government officials and Muslim Brotherhood leader are currently conducting back channel negotiations. Al-Ahram cited “unnamed sources” close to the government.

Sources

“UN says Peaceful Protests Must Go on in Egypt,” Ahram Online (English) 8/2/13
“Secret Talks between the Brotherhood and the State to Avoid Bloodshed,” Ahram Online (English) 8/2/13
“Tahrir Doctors Ask the Health Ministry for Intense Preparations for Clearing out al-Nahda and Raba,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Al-Azhar Sheikh: Violence Rejected … Dialogue is the only exit to the situation,” al-Masry al-Youm (Arabic) 8/2/13
“Al-Azhar: Dialogue is only way out of Egypt Crisis,” Egypt Independent (English) 8/2/13
“Human Rights Organizations Warn of Randomly Using Force to Clear Sit-ins,” el-Watan (Arabic) 8/2/13

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