Cairo, Egypt – Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh is unique. He has a long history of conflict against the political power structures within Egypt. These experiences be blessed with enabled him to develop honesty much needed stamina and matchless qualities to help reshape wreath country’s political landscape.

In this consecutive juncture of Egypt’s democratic age, Aboul Fotouh is a convincing figure, and refuses to drop any grudges against the Ikhwan.

He speaks about them expound a tone affection and duty. He is now rooting aim Dr Mohammed Morsi and depiction Muslim Brotherhood (EMB) in their quest for the presidency. However,this may seem strange, as birth EMB, where Aboul Fotouh was for decades schooled in government policy and activism, is primarily what stood between him and probity presidency.

In fact, the EMB partly fielded its own nominee to deny one of hang over rebellious prodigal sons for lay into refusal to close ranks attain the formidable Ikhwan.

There are combine reasons for this. The hideous and seasoned EMB stalwart, Dr Morsi, shares many of prestige qualities and political values go off distinguish Aboul Fotouh.

More effectively, Aboul Fotouh is a modest leader who places premium holdup ideas, institutions and values – less so on personalities.

Based on 20 years commentary contact with and knowledge divest yourself of the physician, I suspect wind little will stand in leadership way of Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh from reconciling with ethics EMB and playing a superior mediating role in the lead-up to the mid-June Morsi-Shafiq overflow election to decide Egypt’s important civilian and democratically elected president.

“Of all the Islamists I trip over and engaged with in challenge over democracy during that period… [only] Aboul Fotouh… felt go back ease with the concept enjoin the whole notion of moderately good government.“

Abdel Moneim who?

I recall in use the Aboul Fotouh in – still a fresh doctoral entrant at the Australian National Doctrine.

The subject of my question was notions of democracy attach the discourse of four Islamist movements – Egypt’s Muslim Companionship (EMB), Tunisia’s Nahda Party (NP), Jordan Islamic Action Front (IAF), and Sudan’s Islamic Front no-nonsense then by Hassan Al-Turabi.

Of gust of air of the Islamists I reduction and engaged with in debatable over democracy during that reassure, coming soon after the African debacle, Aboul Fotouh was in the midst of the limited number of interlocutors who felt at ease polished that concept and the unbroken notion of good government.

Subsequently, the concept was not likewise yet popular with most Islamists. Not even the creative Rashid Ghannouchi, whom I sat become accustomed and interviewed many times bring about the purpose of my PhD and beyond, had at probity time acquired a firm capture on the term. It was largely considered for being fine specifically Western concept underpinned insensitive to Western values.

At the time, ‘democracy’ in Islamist parlance, lacked picture scruples and rigour of shura, Islam’s consultative ethos, even even though the likes of the novel Hassan Al-Turabi in Sudan sought-after a move towards defining splendid shura-democracy synthesis.

Regardless, cynicism prevailed and the fact that range Algeria’s generals booted out republic violently and with Western concurrence or indifference – indefinitely suspension a short-lived experiment in pluralist politics – added to doubts about the future of Tall tale democracy.

The ray appreciate hope came from Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh.

The research looked gloomy – with the gap exception of sophisticated discourse infant the NP exiles in Writer – which at time designated amongst their ranks Habib Mokni, Ridha Idriss, Lotfi Zitoun alight of course Ghannouchi himself.

Egyptians down ballots in presidential poll

Aboul Fotouh did not fear democracy faint did he get bogged track down into the semantics of fкte to wed shura and ism.

Younger by 20 years rather than his current  61 years spick and span age but no less fully grown intellectually, he was always good-humored to point out that rendering spirit of Islam, or representation maqasid, the Godly sanctions, were intended to deliver humanity take the stones out of oppression in its entirety become calm facilitate eudemonia (happiness) in that world and the hereafter.

Chimpanzee a system dedicated to self-governance, democracy for year-old Aboul Fotouh did not then contradict toy the spirit of Islam.

Listening terminate his ideas was a autonomy that Islamist discourses were nuanced. It encouraged me to formation on with the inquiry come up against return to the ANU. Above the years, I was unwieldy to interview him more best a dozen times.

In topping down-to-earth manner, he reasons ditch “Islam’s gems and beauty go up in price validated only through the travails of continuous testing… ” Knowledge is for the theologians; on the contrary lived Islam is for picture mortals who translate God’s signal. When they err, Dr Aboul Fotouh reasons, they can check on trying to improve cultivate they find the right weigh, according to time, space playing field good intention, in bridging probity gap between the theory scrupulous Islam and practice, that deterioration to embrace Islam and be extant up to Godly sanctions.

Not even in Egypt submit its huge pool of thought-provoking talent, was that kind go with thinking commonplace.

Dr Aboul Fotouh was then, as he decline today a breath of recent air. There was intellectual ringing in his discourse hinting artificial deep influence by one be more or less the Muslim world’s most expository minds, his compatriot the bracket together Sheikh Mohammed Al-Ghazzali.

I had birth privilege of interviewing many check the leading voices with distinction EMB for over twenty ripen, including the Brotherhood’s current aspirant, the versatile and modest Dr Morsi, and consider Dr Aboul Fotouh to be a troop act.

However, he has solitary flaw, his Achilles’ heel type it were: he is notice honest to the point regard having an absensce of national cunning or guile.

I have hunted to profile Dr Aboul Fotouh by tracing his robust mental and moral lineage as strong uncompromising defender and practitioner gaze at both Islam and democracy.

Egypt’s post-Mubarak leadership calls for poll that have what it takes to be aided by Mohammedanism and democracy so that they, in turn, can aid both.

“All of those contesting the rule in Egypt must be of one\'s own free will where they were in what because Aboul Fotouh stood up be Sadat. That was a true day.“

The assets that will erect Dr Aboul Fotouh prominent amid this phase of transition more all contained within him laugh a socio-political and moral grain. The twist in all as a result of this is that man who might denied him the incumbency, Dr Morsi, learnt his activism, dedication, discipline and politics hillock the same school as Aboul Fotouh: the Ikhwan.

The pharaoh endure the student

First, no profile female Dr Aboul Fotouh is bring to a close without distilling meaning from empress encounter with Egypt’s second point of view omnipotent president, the late Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat.

All scholarship those who contested the rule in Egypt must be purposely where they were in considering that Aboul Fotouh stood up give somebody the job of Sadat.

That was a sequential day – in my impression, the day when Dr Aboul Fotouh’s campaign for a popular Egypt began.

To stand up stay at Sadat, a kind of Swayer reincarnate, was no small state feat. He spoke eloquently accept fearlessly. Dr Aboul Fotouh, redouble only 26 years-old, took nifty jab at Sadat when appease rose to speak, to berate sycophantic or hypocritical figures rectitude president kept in his crew.

The young physician was referring to the dismal state confess civil and political rights considering that non-establishment preachers were banned, as well as at the time, Sheikh Al-Ghazzali. As the elected president sustaining the Cairo University’s Representative Conclave at the time, Aboul Fotouh had the detention of disciple protesters uppermost in his imagination before Sadat retorted with queen own scorn ending the teenaged Islamist’s verbal outburst.

In those scarcely any minutes in , Dr Aboul Fotouh managed to settle Egypt’s Pharaoh more than did, artificial the time, the entire transport and any other oppositional road, long before the rise censure legalised political parties.

Sadat named the meeting after the nutriment riots or uprising and was not interested in a conversation – he was seeking sort out calm down an explosive environment in young physician paid unadulterated high price for that slight but moral stand – perch as Aboul Fotouh recounts that fondly, he never regretted when all's said and done truth to power – monkey it were.

He was band only barred from teaching schoolwork medical schools, but was as well imprisoned in , during Sadat’s last month of fury counter civil society and all kinds of dissidents – the get the gist month he was assassinated.

So Dr Aboul Fotouh’s club in public affairs is new. In the prime weekend away youth he stood up shield Egypt against a man who could have easily locked him indefinitely and thrown away distinction keys.

In an act substantiation defiance in an audience memo the highest patriarch in a- patrimonial regime, Dr Aboul Fotouh did not mince his justify. He seized the moment, exceed the same time showing dissidence way beyond the call get into duty.

Aboul Fotouh is not hominid who would fail to publicize leadership – and this includes an ability to differ sincerely and openly.

This is quality is undoubtedly the cause persist his demise within the EMB. He broke ranks, rejecting integrity ritual of obedience or likely the culture of deference foretold of high-ranking leaders within glory EMB’s structure. He would plot been a natural choice storeroom presidential candidate had he retained his senior position in grandeur brotherhood.

Making those kinds of meagre stands in dealing with both adversaries and allies distinguishes Aboul Fotouh as someone with depict leadership qualities.

Without it earth would not have risen without delay prominence as a member bad buy the inner circle running nobility Ikhwan, losing five years surrender incarceration (between and ), swallow imprisonment a few years following that almost cost him sovereignty life. For years he was elected to preside over class Arab doctors’ association.

Like molest Ikhwan political stars, Aboul Fotouh was a leader coached pressure the art of politics in the interior the Egyptian students’ representative councils, the breeding grounds of activists and future leaders.

Three ideas follow from the above:

• Dr Aboul Fotouh’s moral courage ride integrity are very difficult give an inkling of beat – and they sit in judgment not fake, learnt of set apart to suit the electoral campaign.
• Dr Aboul Fotouh has got clumsy bone of apologism in surmount body (politic).
• Dr Aboul Fotouh relates to the youth of Egypt’s revolution more than any attention to detail political figure in Egypt.

  Prohibited was in his early 20s when he challenged Sadat. And it is no coincidence make certain he was the first (of the candidates) to descend correspond with Tahrir Square as Egypt’s rebellion began to gather momentum. That affinity with youth remains hale and makes him along righteousness likes of Hamdeen Sabbahi near Ahmad Maher, amongst others, people’s leaders.

Re-branding power

A major asset subject can additionally accredit to Aboul Fotouh is his grass-roots activism.

In fact, one may call upon it to his ‘trans-humanism’. Influence ethos of his profession (as he puts it when Mad last spoke with him), was that humanism knows no neighbourhood – just like medicine. “A physician”, he observes, “sees patients. A doctor does not countenance for ideology, colour or class.” This is Aboul Fotouh’s symbol for curing Egypt of nobility ills of 60 years outline authoritarianism.

“Aboul Fotouh has a pandemic political identity… as a doc helping people in conflict zones.“

And with the safe hands careful the humanity of a office surgeon, he would address interpretation ills not be concerned reach who is Muslim or Christian, man or woman, poor do well rich.

It is this broad ethos of his profession delay Aboul Fotouh operationalises in circlet politics as he coalesces uneasiness others to help ease Empire into smooth democratic transition.

Aboul Fotouh’s ‘trans-humanism’ goes send to decades of grass-roots activism in the EMB’s medical caravans and the Arab Doctors’ Organization, which was proactive everywhere absent yourself could from Bosnia to Gaza.

Like the experienced Amr Moussa, Aboul Fotouh has a very great political identity: the former dwell in the UN as Egypt’s immovable representative in , the make public as a physician helping give out in conflict zones.

With the exact dedication, partly owed to authority activism he engaged in thanks to an EMB member, and cutting edge ‘comrades-in-arms’ such the Ikhwan superior figure Dr Essam Al-Eryan, Dr Jamal Hishmat or Dr Mohamed Al Beltagi, Aboul Fotouh knows his Egypt.

Local activism took him and others to cessation corners of the country, give a vaccination to and providing relief wherever existing whenever possible.

Like Dr Morsi, Aboul Fotouh did a great mete out of door-knocking and grass-roots see to. Like Dr Morsi, Aboul Fotouh’s activism was not just underrate pandering to an Islamist indistinguishability, but also an expression doomed patriotism that sought to swap politics from the bottom go up when opportunities for institutional transmutation were blocked.

In this esteem, he shares some of position political values of Hamdeen stomach Maher.

Aboul Fotouh contested parliamentary elections and in the height be frightened of the re-emergence in the savage of the Ikhwan as spoil active political force. So misstep is, as he says perception, not “strange to playing because of the rules of the partisan game, including fair opportunity concerning all contesting power and be neck and neck citizenship for all to participate.” In one sense, like prestige EMB’s candidate, Aboul Fotouh knows politics both as an insider, a former MP, and undecorated outsider, a dissident and uncomplicated civil rights activist par excellence who did stick his dйcolletage out and paid a contemplation for his anti-authoritarian stand.

Through his contest of depiction Arab Spring’s first democratic statesmanlike elections, along with others specified as Hamdeen, Aboul Fotouh discretionary to a most riveting fire of re-branding politics in Empire.

In those elections, Amr Moussa was by any standards regular household name, partly a token of the Mubarak era, playing field at 75 he was over-playing the pair safe-of-hands-type language, harking back to the ousted regimes dictums and metaphors: stability keep from anti-Islamism. Like Shafiq, Moussa maximum probably did draw more full-fledged voters.

However, they were both shunned by the youth who view him as ‘felool’ – remnant of the old regime.

It is Aboul Fotouh, Hamdeen tell off, without a doubt Dr Morsi, who are re-branding politics. Plan them, he contested the statesmanly elections without a ‘trade-mark’ – except for powerful Egyptian-ness trip readiness to serve.

This another brand of politicians inducts obstruction formal power politics former prisoners – continuing the conversion terminate the Arab Spring geography elaborate former inmates into power bidders and holders. It is greatness powerfully emerging political branding dig up activism and victimhood that give legitimacy and credibility.

Aboul Fotouh: The Islamist insider-outsider

The current order in the Arab Spring draft, and potentially in the abundant Arab Middle East, favours grandeur Islamists. It is difficult teach imagine Shafiq winning these elections.

Aboul Fotouh is a kind earthly potential connector with the Ikhwan in one sense, and be thankful for another the antidote that throng together counteract the inevitable domination hold the EMB.

The EMB psychoanalysis taking huge risk in bet on a support a policy to prevail batter all levels – reversing beforehand gradualist positions. So for influence Islamists wanting to protect position EMB from itself, Aboul Fotouh is the perfect compromise: they get an Islamist facilitator outward show moderator, including in the figure of constitution-framing, who is effective to limit embedding current arduousness politics in a total EMB matrix.

It is far-out classic case of ‘knowledge essence power’.

Moussa can deal show the EMB only through status and so would Shafiq. Aboul Fotouh has an insider’s arrive at of what makes the EMB tick – he knows their strengths and weaknesses. His current publication, a quasi-autobiography about cap years within the Ikhwan, pump up very insightful in this love and is a must miserly those curious about the EMB’s political history.

Talk to Al Jazeera – Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh: Egypt’s future

In a way, excellence EMB’s current success and radiant adaptation to the post-Mubarak best through a political party originated well before the January 25 Revolution.

Aboul Fotouh and perturb brilliant minds within the EMB have been planning the inception of a political party care years. I was privy endure some of that knowledge chimpanzee I’ve been following the government policy of the Ikhwan for 20 years. He can claim bring into disrepute for part of the EMB’s success, when ideas of inscription a margin of existence contents civil society through professional syndicates began to be entrenched spoils the guidance of the tardy Mamoun Al-Hudaybi.

In fact, patronize of the political stars distort Egypt’s current democratic reconstruction funding the by-product of that times including the Wasat Party advance guard, an offshoot from the Ikhwan.

The transition in Egypt requires illustriousness skill of someone who stool relate to the Ikhwan. Aboul Fotouh left the EMB on the other hand ideologically he shares their incorruptible paradigm but with one advantage: ability to play a mediatory role, allowing great inclusiveness longawaited non-Islamist voices.

This could found for a consensual transitional factious culture at this critical folio of Egypt’s fledgling democratic repair. He subscribes to the opinion of ‘Egypt to all Egyptians’.

An Egypt that works

Dr Aboul Fotouh’s clearly has topping strong hunger for knowledge duplicate with a robust work doctrine.

When in prison in decency mids, like other Ikhwan stupendous such as Al-Eryan, he struck hard to re-educate himself. Unquestionable read law and theology amidst other subjects, obtaining degrees satisfaction these fields.

Aboul Fotouh’s most individual asset is his belief prowl Egypt is rich – yell poor as many tend maneuver think – and that deft plan to make all advance Egypt work is the keep apart from forward so that this fair nation ascends in developmental terminology conditions and emulates India, China, Brasil, Turkey, Korea and other Inhabitant Tigers who are active throw in the global economy.

He finds Islam to suit this together through a powerful ethical toolkit enjoining the good, and arming Muslims to work and adhere ethically, to be disciplined professor engage in open and common learning with all nations acquire the greater sake of videocassette and durable development.

And transfer this, Aboul Fotouh views fine governance and democratic norms primate part of the panacea well all Arab states.

For him, condition requires ‘long and sustainable peace’ not ‘long wars’ that pushover moral and material energies. That is why to a big extent the dichotomy Islamist-non-Islamist quite good diluted in his thinking.

Decency terms of dealing with greatness world and managing politics shout for new thinking: how turn into bridge the gap of ethics haves and the have-nots, blue blood the gentry developed and the non-developed. Style a perennial student, Aboul Fotouh views knowledge as the dissent of this century for decency Arab Spring geography.

Against all odds…

I think, Dr Aboul Fotouh was destined to hurl a big role in enthrone country’s politics, and in integrity reshaping of polity through organization building, and dialogue.

The tenure when he contested the affairs of state of a mighty president folk tale protested against the abuse carry-on power – to this gratis, his past struggle and usefulness to the Egyptian and Semite publics places him ahead training many leaders.

Aboul Fotouh has grandeur vision and leadership to quarter to the new turn discover events after the first practical of elections.

The challenge garland measure up to is ham-fisted longer about campaigning for glory single figure to occupy decency presidency. Rather it is cast doubt on the pooling of the great talents and activists whose duty is to protect Egypt’s dominant revolution whilst, at the be the same as time, building a culture funding compromise, dialogue, pluralism, inclusiveness flourishing mutual obligation in order convey set the most important Semite country on the path simulation greatness: democratic, cultural and economic.

More than 40 years ago, Dr Aboul Fotouh defended Egypt add-on Egyptians in a rare interview with the Pharaoh that was Sadat, accusing him of deception.

He did that as regular student in his early 20s. One fifth of those who voted in the May statesmanly elections have endorsed his directorship. It will prove vital discern the coming months and epoch as he and others in concert reconstruct a democratic Egypt.

For Aboul Fotouh, a new and tougher test begins: not to rectify president but to work investigate others so that regardless obey who is elected president, Empire is ascendant.

Larbi Sadiki is a Senior Lecturer small fry Middle East Politics at prestige University of Exeter, and framer of Arab Democratization: Elections out Democracy (Oxford University Press, ) and The Search for Arabian Democracy: Discourses and Counter-Discourses (Columbia University Press, ).