As President Mohamed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood slowly appropriate power, they consistently issue an unspoken theme: Trust us. They do not say so, of course; that no one should be trusted is a platitude in politics. Rather, at each step from the revolution through the transition to the presidency, they speak of consensus, broad-based governance, and the will of the people. Then they proceed to act unilaterally, and the process repeats.
The worried Coptic voice interprets this as a grand scheme to implement an Islamic state. The frustrated liberal voice interprets it as evidence of their Machiavellian lust for power. Both may be right.
But what if the Brotherhood really means it? ‘Trust us’ may not result in everything the Copt or the liberal desire, but it may reflect a real Brotherhood wish to honor the goals of the revolution in respect to the conservative social reality of Egypt.
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In November of last year following the Islamist victory in the first round of parliamentary elections, I interviewed Youssef Sidhom, editor-in-chief of the Coptic newspaper Watani. Imagining I would hear alarm bells from an intellectual leader in the community, I was surprised by the exact opposite.
“I believe the Muslim Brotherhood wants to prove they can create a form of democracy,” Sidhom said, “that respects the rights of all Egyptians.” He went on to describe several positive pre-election meetings with Brotherhood leaders, from which he was convinced they were ‘decent people’.
Yet when asked why they would not submit to a consensus over binding constitutional principles, his answer has echoed in my mind in all events since.
“Perhaps … they don’t want it said, ‘They did so only because they were forced to.’”
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A careful reading of events shows that in each case the Brotherhood has been very careful. Each move can be understood not as Islamist, but as necessary preparation to secure the goals of the revolution.
Returning to Sidhom today, his faith is not as strong as it was, but his read of the situation is similar.
“Morsi is pushing all civil and military forces out of his way. Why? But it must be said that until now we haven’t seen anything concrete to implement an Islamic state.”
Sidhom is very wary, and he is ready to take to the streets if necessary. But for him, the key indicator is still coming.
“I stand waiting for our greatest challenge – the writing of the constitution. When they finalize their work I can say more confidently if they have good intentions or a hidden agenda.”
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Jayson Casper blogs about Egyptian politics, religion, and culture at A Sense of Belonging. Follow him on bTwitter at @jnjcasper.
