Friday 11 January 2013

Young liberals undermine Muslim Brotherhood

If you think the British Liberal Democrats have a tough fight on their hands, consider our fellow liberals in the Arab world. The Arab Spring has provided much hope and reform, but has also been exploited by the Muslim Brotherhood to try and create strict Islamic states. Fortunately, local liberals are fighting back.

In an interview with the Dutch newspaper Metro (English translation here), Rabih Fakhreddine of the Lebanese party Future Movement (a member party of Liberal International) and Vice-President of IFLRY (International Federation of Liberal Youth) is interviewed about the engagement of young liberals in the democratisation processes following the Arab Spring.

In the interview, Fakhreddine says that, although there are many liberal parties throughout the Arab world, they have had little time to organise compared with the decades the Muslim Brotherhood has had. But they are not deterred. “When the voters will become disappointed in the Muslim Brotherhood, however, we will be there.”

He adds, “We maintain strong ties with liberal parties and leaders from around the world,” and the two Dutch liberal parties VVD and D66 have been prominent supporters. If you would like to add your support, contact Liberal International or IFLRY.

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