Egypt’s Islamists racked by internal conflicts

The current political crisis diving Egypt’s Islamist movement, with internal spats between the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafist Nour Party, continues to escalate. Some analysts are suggesting there is no end in sight. Abdullah Badran, the Nour Party’s parliamentary chief, has said that the Muslim Brotherhood (as well as its political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party) is punishing the party for not allying with it. The Muslim Brotherhood was “antagonist” to Salafist groups, he said, and that the Nour Party and others would defend themselves against the ruling party’s confrontations. Jihadist Nabil Naiem agreed, claiming that while President Mohammed Morsi’s Brotherhood had supported Islamists in their political battles with liberal, left-wing opposition groups, they work “work to undermine us” in the future. “The Muslim Brotherhood views other Islamist parties as a threat,” Naiem said. Leading Muslim Brotherhood member Saber Aboul-Fotouh has meanwhile called for a unifying organisation, bringing together Islamist groups to end current differences.