New release: Army and Brotherhood, by Mostafa Bakry

Ahram Online, Sunday 12 May 2013

Former parliament member shares interviews with military and former regime leaders in attempts to answer questions on the relationship between army, Brotherhood and US during transition to democracy

Army and Brotherhood Secrets

Al gish wal ikhwan … asrar khalf al sitar (The Army and the Brotherhood … Secrets behind Curtains) by Mostafa Bakry, Cairo: Al-Dar Al-Masreya Al-Lubnaneya, 2013.452pp.

The new book by former member of parliament, Mostafa Bakry, includes interviews with heads of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF – a military body that ruled after president Mubarak's ouster) as well as presidential candidates and the late head of intelligence, Omar Suleiman.

The book hypothesises on the relationship between the army and the Muslim Brotherhood since the 2011 January 25 Revolution, including whether and how a deal was struck between the two to halt the passing down of the president's seat to Mubarak's son, Gamal.

Bakry, who was in close contact with the army through his extended work in media organisations, was able to meet with many senior members of the cabinet and the army during the transition period.

Some of the questions Bakry tries to answer are on the relationship between the US and the Brotherhood, digging into resources like newspapers and personal contacts to shed some light on the issue.

The book covers the period from the day Mubarak stepped down in February 2011 to the outcome of the presidential elections, which saw the Brotherhood candidate, Mohamed Morsi beat the ex-regime candidate, Ahmed Shafiq in June 2012.

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