New Document Reveals Muslim Brotherhood’s Attempts to Attract Hasm Movement for Internal Election Planning
As the organization grapples with internal bankruptcy and external leadership conflicts, its divisions intensify day by day amid a state of discord among its factions. In this context of disunity, Egyptian journalist Hossam El-Ghamry spoke of a “new document” demonstrating efforts by two rival factions within the organization to attract elements of the Hasm terrorist movement as a strategy in internal elections.
The document, attributed by El-Ghamry to a leader of the London faction formerly led by Ibrahim Munir, a former deputy guide of the Muslim Brotherhood who passed away earlier last year, shows that his faction sought to position itself within the Brotherhood in Egypt by presenting itself as connected to terrorist organizations in Syria, notably the al-Nusra Front linked to al-Qaeda.
Following the Brotherhood‘s ousting from power in Egypt in the 2013 popular revolution, the organization splintered into two rival factions, one in London and the other in Istanbul, while a third current, called the “Kamaliyoun,” named after Brotherhood leader Mohamed Kamal, emerged. Kamal had openly claimed responsibility for terrorist attacks against security forces and state officials.
Although the Brotherhood factions distanced themselves from violent organizations, including Hasm, classified as a terrorist group in several Western countries, the document leaked by El-Ghamry indicates that the London faction attempted to capitalize on some leaders’ ties to al-Nusra Front to attract the growing Kamaliyoun current within the Brotherhood, aiming to win electoral battles at the level of the Brotherhood‘s basic cell and even its consultative council.
The document, published by El-Ghamry, former editor-in-chief of Al-Sharq channel, on his “X” platform, under the title “Mother of Scandals Document,” states that as part of its preparations for internal elections, the organization disseminated instructions to Brotherhood leaders, asking them to focus on a personality identified as “Kh.M” and described as capable of rallying youth, being one of the cadre with experience in armed work, having previously traveled to Syria to coordinate with terrorist organizations there.
The assessment at the time also indicated that the mentioned cadre was more acceptable to Hasm elements, and that his participation in the London faction would encourage other movement members to join Ibrahim Munir’s faction (currently led by Salah Abdel Hakeem).
The document also declares that while the number of Brotherhood members in Turkey does not exceed 0.5%, Turkey represents a spearhead in our fight for change, and thus we must: pressure towards the return of members of the general office (the Kamaliyoun and founders of armed specialized committees) as a single bloc, which is crucial in drawing the electoral map.
The recently published document also confirms what Egyptian security forces and investigative bodies had previously announced about the relationships maintained by the Muslim Brotherhood and the al-Nusra Front in Syria.
The document also includes instructions for Ibrahim Munir’s faction on how to play and benefit from the dispersion caused by “M.H.,” likely Mahmoud Hussein, the former secretary-general and leader of the wing opposed to Munir within the office, to hinder achievements, while working to enable “D.S.” to return to the Turkey office due to his influence to remove the Pasha branch from Mahmoud Hussein’s control and the Turkey office, and to effectively contribute with the Greater Cairo, in addition to being close to Munir.
