The Muslim Brotherhood was dealt a heavy blow when its leader was arrested, yesterday prompting a quick evaluation on a replacement.
Mahmoud Ezzat was announced today to have taken the place of Mohamed Badie, at least until Badie is released.
But who really is Ezzat? But as Badie is imprisoned for, among other things, his alleged inciting of the pro-Morsi crowd and some say outright jihad, and displaying a clear intention to employ violent uprising to retake power, is the election of Ezzat a move toward proving that the Brotherhood can return to the democratic fold, or a reiteration of a hard line that is becoming more defined with each passing day?
Just like al Zawahiri, Ezzat is a medical doctor, and one of the oldest members of the group. His membership in the Brotherhood goes back to 1962, when he began to study with them. He was one of the members who was imprisoned together with Badie, from 1965-1974.
Ezzat was imprisoned again in 1992, under suspicion of complicity in the Salsabil case. In 1995, he was again arrested for being part of a group that was banned by the government. Lastly, in 2008, he was jailed for participating in a Cairo demonstration against Isreali attacks on the Gaza strip.
Ezzat has been a doctor for decades, and is currently working in the Zagazig College of Medicine.
As benevolent and steady as Ezzat seems to be, one should not mistake him for a person who is on the sidelines, or who is not able to get down in the trenches. He has been a decision maker for the Brotherhood for many years.
It remains to be seen then, if Ezzat will be able to steer the Brotherhood toward action that can bridge the immense divide created by the newest uprising and the military plan to exclude the group from politics altogether.
Source : Partial France 24/ 8.20.13
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