In 2013, participants of the Muslim Brotherhood took part in a demonstration. Image credited to Carsten Koall, courtesy of Getty Images. Ibrahim Munir, the head of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, passed away in November. Exile in London on April 4, 2022. Despite not receiving much attention everywhere, the passing of Munir denotes a crucial juncture in the development of an organization which has its origins nearly a century ago as a religious and social entity. Through the years, the Brotherhood has developed into being the most influential social organization and political opposition in Egypt. Hassan al-Banna, a primary school teacher, founded the Muslim Brotherhood in 1928 with a vision that living with piousness and following Islamic values could be transformative for the individual, reshape society, and ultimately result in the establishment of an Islamic state. This gained attention from Egyptians who were dissatisfied with the state’s religious organizations, disapproved of the political system, and hated the involvement of the Western world in the Muslim community. The Brotherhood became a very popular grassroots movement with a sophisticated system of educational institutions, media publications, and social support services. By the end of the century, the Brotherhood had a strong hold on civil life in Egypt, and it was also a very influential factor in the political scene. The 2011 Arab Spring, in which numerous countries in the Middle East experienced popular rebellions, led to the Brotherhood winning Egypt’s first free and impartial elections. In addition, it created different branches and affiliates in many Muslim countries. The Freedom and Justice Party, its associate in politics, obtained the major share of seats in Parliament, initiating Mohammed Morsi as a successful president.
