Brotherhood expels members for defying boycott decision

By Mohammad Ben Hussein

AMMAN - The Muslim Brotherhood has expelled five members for breaking ranks by running in the parliamentary elections after the Islamist group decided to boycott the polls, Islamist officials said on Monday.

The decision comes less than two weeks after at least seven Islamists declared their intent to seek candidacy in the elections despite a previous decision by the Muslim Brotherhood and its political arm, the Islamic Action Front (IAF), not to participate.

"We have to have discipline within the group. Those who dare defy the group's decision face expulsion," said Muslim Brotherhood Spokesperson Jameel Abu Baker.

Abu Baker told The Jordan Times that the decision is not final and can be appealed.

"There is still a chance for the members to regain their membership by going to the group's cassation court," added Abu Baker, insisting the decision was also meant to send a strong message to group's members and supporters about the seriousness of the movement's decision to boycott.

"The Islamist movement consulted its members months ago and the group decided it was in its best interests to boycott the polls. Therefore, we expect all members to respect the rules," he added.

Abu Baker said the five members are also members of the IAF and will face similar trials within the IAF, which maintains a separate court and operates independently from the Muslim Brotherhood.

According to IAF officials, the party court will hold its next session on Saturday to deliberate over the matter and hand down its ruling later next week.

"We will issue a verdict before the parliamentary elections," Tayseer Fityani, chief judge of the IAF's internal court, told The Jordan Times, urging those who have decided to run to reconsider their position and drop out of the race.

The expelled members include Madalla Tarawneh from Karak, Mohammad Massad and Aref Abu Eid from Baqaa camp, Abdul Hameed Qudah from Ajloun and Sameer Dababseh from Salt. Massad and Abu Eid told IAF officials in Baqaa that they registered as candidates following pressure from their families.

The Islamist movement and a number of leftist parties announced in August that they would boycott the polls in protest against the temporary Elections Law, which they claim favors tribes over political parties.

26 October 2010

Source: The Jordan Times.
Link: http://jordantimes.com/?news=31264.