It takes little effort, albeit an investigative eye, to observe the reactions of parties to the Egyptian political game – whether those in power, in all of their constituents, or in the opposition, across the spectrum and with all of their prominent figures – to the arrest of the Coordinator of the April 6 Youth Movement, Engineer Ahmed Maher (who was later released), to realize the size of contradictions in Egypt after the Revolution. It could also be described as the extent to which most parties seek to exploit any event, incident or disaster, even a natural one, to “service" their interests, or to smear competing parties, or those parties which they wish to demolish at the popular level. It is well known that there are stances hostile in the first place to the April 6 Movement. Those who hold such stances viewed the incident as a “political game" aimed at whitewashing the movement in general and Maher in particular, after they had taken stances close to the Muslim Brotherhood at times and to those in power at others. They would usually explain the activity of the movement over the recent period as being aimed at distracting people, diverting their attention away from the flaws and the mistakes of those in power, or focusing the spotlight on the mistakes made by the police and away from the Heliopolis (Ittihadiya) Palace. The remaining parties, despite unanimously condemning Maher's arrest, nonetheless made sure to send messages to one or more other parties – their most important aspect being to achieve the goals intended of them through their revolutionary stances! Here are a few examples: Doctor Pakinam El-Sharkawy, advisor to the President: One cannot forget the patriotic role played by Ahmed Maher and the contribution of the April 6 Movement to the Revolution. I hope that this incident will come to an end soon, as the country is big enough to hold our differences and will flourish with freedom of expression. (Note that some of Maher's companions from outside the April 6 Movement, such as Ahmed Douma and Hassan Mostafa, are currently in prison on the same charges that have been directed at the April 6 cofounder, without any reaction having issued from the Presidency.) Murad Ali, spokesman for the Muslim Brotherhood: We may disagree with some of the practices of the April 6 Movement (such as protesting in their underwear), but we cannot accept for Ahmed Maher to be detained as a political activist, and we do not think that his arrest at the airport is commensurate with the charges brought against him. (Note that other activists have been arrested in their own homes, as if this was commensurate with the charges brought against them) Essam Sultan, Vice President of the Al-Wasat Party: The whole issue, from beginning to end, is unsettling. Is protesting then a crime? And if so, is there such a charge as incitement to protest? Or is the area facing the Interior Minister's house in Nasr City different from the area facing the Prime Minister's house in Dokki, or the President's house in New Cairo? (Note that those who protested in the areas mentioned by Sultan are all categorically opposed to those in power in all of their constituents.) Ahmed Al-Moghir, leading figure of the Muslim Brotherhood: I doubt that Ahmed Maher could be implicated in any acts of violence. It is possible that he may have lost his moral compass, that he may have been fooled, that he may be allied with the enemies of the Revolution with the utmost naivety, but that he may be implicated in acts of violence? Honestly, I doubt that very much, and I feel that his arrest and detention may well be intended to throw dust in our eyes. Those who should be arrested are the militias of the National Destruction Front (the National Salvation Front) and the criminal baltagia (hired thugs) leading them. (Note that assessing the act here becomes connected to the identity of those engaged in it and their stance on those in power, not to the nature of the act itself.) This is for Egyptian parties loyal to those in power. As for the parties that oppose the rule of the Muslim Brotherhood, here are some examples of their stances on the incident: Sheikh Mazhar Shaheen from in front of the Omar Makram Mosque: The arrest of Ahmed Maher in this fashion signifies the failure of the regime to deal with the opposition, its fear of the future, its ungratefulness to those who supported it, and its turning against the goals and principles of the Revolution. The Constitution (Dostour) Party: Such a decision confirms the general direction taken by President Mohamed Morsi's government towards repressing opposition activists, exactly as had been the practice of the toppled regime, which the Egyptian people rose to overthrow. Ahmed Khairy, leading figure of the Free Egyptians Party: The arrest of Ahmed Maher – or when those in power act foolishly. Ahmed Ezz El-Arab, Vice Chairman of the New Wafd Party: President Mohamed Morsi will fail, as Mubarak failed before him, to repress members of the opposition, pursue citizens and put pressure on their freedoms. The arrest of Maher indicates that the Muslim Brotherhood has reached a dead-end and is suffering from political bankruptcy. And finally, Doctor Mohamed El-Baradei: A salute and much esteem to Ahmed Maher and to all the youth of the Revolution. A tyrannical regime that resorts to repression and fear tactics to do away with the dream of the Revolution is a regime doomed, and the masks are falling. Notice the reactions of Islamists to the statements made by Defense Minister Colonel General Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi two days ago, in response to those demanding that the army interfere to remove the Muslim Brotherhood from power. Indeed, the same people who used to “insinuate", incite, and promote stances against the army considered these statements to represent a blow to the opposition, and returned to praising the army and its “support for the legitimate government"... It makes no difference, as “revolutionary" principles and stances in Egypt after the Revolution can now be divided and manipulated according to positions, interests and goals.
