-
The Muslim Brotherhood: Between Condemning "Aggression" and Celebrating "Nasrallah's Demise".. Stark Contradictions Expose the Depth of Opportunism
-
The Muslim Brotherhood's conflicting positions on regional events reflect extreme political pragmatism and opportunism, going beyond tactical flexibility to outright contradiction, raising questions a

Starkly contradictory statements issued by branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Syria have revealed sharp double standards and a lack of unified vision for the organization, raising serious questions about its credibility and internal cohesion, and highlighting a deep identity crisis it is suffering from.
In a statement issued by the parent organization in Egypt, it said: "The Muslim Brotherhood reiterates its condemnation of the barbaric Israeli aggression against the Lebanese Republic, targeting the Lebanese resistance supporting our people in Palestine, and assassinating several of its leaders, foremost among them Mr. Hassan Nasrallah, the Secretary-General of Hezbollah." The statement added: "The Muslim Brotherhood extends its condolences to the Lebanese Hezbollah, Lebanon, and its people for the victims of this sinful aggression."
In contrast, the organization's branch in Syria issued a completely different statement, which read: "We in the Muslim Brotherhood in Syria, like the free Syrian people and all the free people in the Arab and Islamic world, who are afflicted by the fire of the hateful Iranian sectarian aggressive project, received with great joy and pleasure the news of the demise of the criminal 'Hassan Nasrallah,' leader of the sectarian Lebanese 'Hezbollah' organization."
This stark contradiction highlights the deep divisions within the Muslim Brotherhood, revealing an extreme pragmatic policy adopted by the organization's branches in various Arab countries. Each branch issues statements that align with its local interests, regardless of their fundamental contradiction with the positions of other branches or the parent organization.
This discrepancy is also clearly evident in each branch's stance towards Hezbollah and Iran. While the parent organization in Egypt describes Hezbollah as "the Lebanese resistance supporting our people in Palestine," the Syrian branch describes it as a "sectarian organization" and "wallowing in the blood of the Syrian people." The Syrian statement explicitly refers to the "hateful Iranian sectarian aggressive project," while the Egyptian statement avoids any negative reference to Iran.
Interestingly, both statements attempt to present themselves as defenders of the Palestinian cause. The Egyptian statement affirms that "resisting the Israeli occupation is a right and duty for every Muslim everywhere; until all of Palestine is liberated," while the Syrian statement refers to "our complete loyalty to Palestine, Gaza, and the heroic resistance there." This contradiction reveals attempts by each branch to exploit the Palestinian cause for local political gains, without regard for its impact on the credibility of the organization as a whole.
The divergence in the two branches' positions on "Israeli aggression" is also prominent. While the Egyptian statement strongly condemns what it describes as "Israeli bullying in the Arab region," the Syrian statement suffices with a brief phrase: "We denounce the Zionist enemy's targeting of civilians in Lebanon," while emphasizing "the danger of the Zionist project and that it is destructive and criminal."
Observers point out that this duality in positions could have severe repercussions on the future of the Muslim Brotherhood in the region. On one hand, these contradictions weaken the organization's ability to present itself as a coherent political force with a clear vision. On the other hand, these divisions may lead to further fragmentation within the organization's ranks, which could reduce its political influence in the future.
Analysts view this duality in discourse as reflecting a deep identity crisis within the Muslim Brotherhood, where the local interests of each branch have come to overshadow any unified vision or shared ideology. These contradictions point to the absence of effective central leadership capable of unifying the organization's positions on major regional issues.
Levant - Follow up
You May Also Like
Popular Posts
Caricature
BENEFIT AGM approves 10%...
- March 27, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).
Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.
opinion
Report
ads
Newsletter
Subscribe to our mailing list to get the new updates!