Egyptian Current Party

Egyptian Current Party
حزب التيار المصري
Leader Mohamed El-Kassas[1]
Ahmed Abd El-Gawad
Founded June 2011[2]
Merged into Strong Egypt Party[3]
Ideology Centrism
Liberal Islam

The Egyptian Current Party (Arabic: حزب التيار المصري‎‎, Hezb Al-Tayyar Al-Masry, alternative English translation: Egyptian Stream Party) was an Egyptian political party, founded after the revolution of 2011. The party announced on 1 October 2014 that it had merged into the Strong Egypt Party.[3]

It was formed by a portion of the Muslim Brotherhood's youth wing. Its leaders, including Mohamed El-Kassas and Ahmed Abd El-Gawad, were expelled from the Brotherhood, because the Islamist organisation does not tolerate its members joining political parties other than the official Freedom and Justice Party.[4][5] Other members were part of the April 6 Movement.[6] The party stood for a centrist and more liberal version of Islamic politics.[7] At the time of its foundation on 21 June 2011, the Egyptian Current Party had 150 members.[4][8]

According to its manifesto, the Egyptian Current Party advocated the separation of religion and state, the protection of individual freedoms, and a youth-driven economic development.[4] It embraced Islamic culture and values without enforcing the religious law (Sharia).[7][8]

Observers saw the formation of the new party against the background of the expulsion from the Brotherhood of Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, a liberal Islamic presidential candidate with high popularity among the organised Islamic youth.[4][7][9] Another disagreement which led to the division between the Muslim Brotherhood and the youth grouping concerned the Brotherhood's refusal to allow it to take part in "The Second Revolution" protests on Tahrir Square in May 2011.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Egyptian Islamists' anger, woes". Ahram Online. 7 July 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "Al Tayar". Hiwar Magazine. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  3. 1 2 "Strong Egypt, Egyptian Current merge into new party". Ahram Online. 1 October. Retrieved 1 October 2014. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. 1 2 3 4 Bradley, Matt (23 June 2011), "Young Brothers Rebel in Egypt", The Wall Street Journal, retrieved 10 December 2013
  5. ↑ Shukrallah, Salma (17 July 2011), "Muslim Brotherhood dismisses two of its members, interrogates others", Ahram Online, retrieved 10 December 2013
  6. ↑ "Egyptian Current Party". Ahram Online. 18 November 2011. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 "In Egypt, Youth Wing Breaks From Muslim Brotherhood", The New York Times, 22 June 2011, retrieved 10 December 2013
  8. 1 2 El-Hennawy, Noha (21 June 2011), "Defying leadership, Brotherhood youth form new party", Al-Masry Al-Youm, retrieved 10 December 2013
  9. ↑ Jansen, Michael (23 June 2011), "Political party of youth splits from Egypt's Brotherhood", Irish Times, retrieved 10 December 2013
  10. ↑ Hassan, Amro (23 June 2011), "EGYPT: Muslim Brotherhood youth break away to form new political party", Los Angeles Times, retrieved 10 December 2013
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