Egypt: the Muslim Brotherhood at a Croassroad
Introduction
This is certainly not the first time the Brotherhood has had to reinvent itself. A first re-founding of the Muslim Brotherhood took place after the death of its charismatic founder, Hasan Al Banna, in 1947. On that occasion the Brotherhood remained without a General Guide – the highest office in a pyramidal organisation – until 1951, when Hasan Al Hudeybi was elected. This marked the beginning of a new phase that culminated in the hanging of Sayyd Qutb in 1966, following Nasser’s repression and the birth of the first jihadist groups.
Titre original : “Egypt: the Muslim Brotherhood at a Croassroad”
Introduction
Ce n’est certainement pas la première fois que les Frères musulmans doivent se réinventer. Une première refondation des Frères musulmans a eu lieu après la mort de son fondateur charismatique, Hasan Al Banna, en 1947. À cette occasion, les Frères musulmans sont restés sans guide général – la plus haute fonction d’une organisation pyramidale – jusqu’en 1951, date à laquelle Hasan Al Hudeybi a été élu. Cela a marqué le début d’une nouvelle phase qui a abouti à la pendaison de Sayyd Qutb en 1966, à la suite de la répression de Nasser et de la naissance des premiers groupes djihadistes.
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