From Ruling to Opposition

Islamist Movements and Non-Islamist Groups in Egypt 2011-2013

Cornelis Hulsman (ed.)

Foreword: Ambassador Mona Omar

Published in: Anwendungsorientierte Religionswissenschaft

Herausgegeben von Ulrike Bechmann und Wolfram Reiss

@Tectum Verlag Marburg, 2017

After the deposition of President Husni Mubarak in the year 2011, Islamists came to political power in Egypt during the period of 2012-2013. Islamists with different political perspectives were hopeful that they would be able to realize the implementation of their interpretation of  sharīʿa and thus create  a utopian Islamic state. In 2013, a group of researchers had the unique chance to interview 61 Egyptian political Islamists and their opponents both prior to and after the removal of Egypt’s Islamist president Muḥammad Mursī on July 3. The interviews document authentic voices during this period of major political transformation. They allow the reader to see the views of different Islamist actors, leaders and thinkers and their oponents on subjects ranging from society, the  relation between state and religion,  interreligious relations and others.. After July 3 Egypt’s Islamists were deeply disappointed and angry. The consequences are visible today: many Islamists reject the political transformation and a number became involved in militant attacks on police, military and the judiciary. This resulted in harsh government responses. Many voices have been muted, but they still exist. This book gives an insight in the views of different Islamist groups who were in power 2012-2013. It is a must read for anyone who wants to understand contemporary Egypt.

This book is mainly based on interviews with Islamists in Egypt. The interviews are accessible at the homepage of the Center for Arab-West Understanding:http://www.arabwestreport.info/en/project/interviews-islamist-movements-....

 (Provided in the attached PDF: Book Summary, Table of Contents, and Foreword)