Islam

Muslim Brotherhood Opens Egypt’s New Parliment

It was a raucous beginning Monday for Egypt’s first democratically elected parliament in 60 years. The Islamist character of the chamber was also shown in the attire of lawmakers, many of whom sported long beards, clerical turbans or flowing robes. Most of the women wore Islamic scarves.

Published

14 years ago

January 23, 2012

Geoffrey Grider

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CAIRO (AP) — It was a raucous beginning Monday for Egypt’s first democratically elected parliament in 60 years.

Saad el-Katatni, Egypt's newly-elected parliament speaker attends the first session after the revolution that ousted former President Hosni Mubarak, in Cairo, Egypt, Monday, Jan. 23, 2012. The parliament elected in Egypt's first legislative vote after Hosni Mubarak's ouster nearly a year ago held its inaugural session on Monday, with Islamists dominating the 498-seat chamber that will oversee the drafting of a new constitution. (AP Photo/Khaled Elfiqi,Pool)

Islamist lawmakers added religious references to the oath of office. Liberal lawmakers improvised too, adding a pledge to protect the “revolution” that ousted Hosni Mubarak. Some wore scarves with words protesting military trials for civilians. Shouting matches erupted. Hundreds massed outside, calling on the ruling generals to step down.

And millions of Egyptians watched it all unfold live on TV.

The opening session of parliament offered a stark contrast to past decades, when Egyptians knew that lawmakers came to office through deeply fraudulent elections engineered by the authorities, including the police, to ensure that the ruling party won comfortably. Apathetic and demoralized, they paid little or no heed to what lawmakers did or said.

All that came to an end when the new legislature was elected in balloting staggered over six weeks beginning Nov. 28. Islamists led by the Muslim Brotherhood, the largest and most disciplined political group in the nation of 85 million people, won about 70 percent of the parliament’s 508 seats.

The Brotherhood had been banned for most of its 84-year history, legalized only after the uprising that began a year ago Wednesday and toppled Mubarak, Egypt’s authoritarian ruler for nearly three decades.

The chamber’s top priority will be to elect a 100-member panel to draft a new constitution, which will have to be put to a vote in a referendum. The next major step in the transition will be a presidential election, scheduled to be held before the end of June, when the generals who took over from Mubarak are due to step down.

The lawmakers took office at a time when Egypt appears divided and near despairing. Since Mubarak stepped down, the economy has been battered. Tenuous security has hit tourism hard and foreign currency reserves have rapidly dwindled.

Thousands of people of all political views demonstrated on side streets near parliament to voice a wide variety of demands and speak of expectations from the new lawmakers. Some repeated calls for the ruling generals to step down, while others questioned the legitimacy of the chamber or voiced their opposition to the Islamists’ policies.

“We want to remind all those inside the parliament that they are there as the fruit of freedom. Therefore, we need more freedom,” said poet and activist Abdel-Rahman Youssef, who said his advocacy group was concerned about calls by Islamists to place restrictions on the arts.

Voices calling for the military to immediately return to the barracks have intensified, with political activists accusing the generals of bungling the transition, torturing detainees and hauling 12,000 civilian before military tribunals for trial.

Many are frustrated by the waves of street protests, strikes and sit-ins preventing life from returning to normal. The generals have taken advantage of the disarray, stepping up a campaign portraying the revolutionaries as irresponsible agents of foreign powers while projecting themselves as Egypt’s protectors and true patriots.

The divisions were on display both inside and outside parliament Monday.

Liberal and independent lawmakers wore yellow scarves saying, “No to military trials for civilians.” Some of them added to the text of the oath of office, pledging to “continue the revolution” or “to be loyal to the blood of its martyrs.”

That led to lawmakers from the ultraconservative Salafist movement to do some improvising of their own. The oath ends with a pledge to respect the constitution and the law, but several of them added “God’s law” or said “as long as there are no contradictions with God’s law.”

The addition of religious references pointed to the Salafis’ intention to make good on election promises to impose a strict interpretation of Islam on the nation.

The Islamist character of the chamber was also shown in the attire of lawmakers, many of whom sported long beards, clerical turbans or flowing robes. Most of the women wore Islamic scarves.

Brotherhood lawmaker Saad el-Katatni, a botany lecturer from the central province of Minya south of Cairo, was elected as speaker and sought to woo the revolutionaries.

“Our revolution continues and we will not rest until all the goals of the revolution are met and we avenge our martyrs,” he said in an address that drew a standing ovation. “We will never betray the blood of our martyrs.”

The Brotherhood won just under half of all seats, followed by the Salafis who won about a quarter. The liberal and left-leaning groups that organized the uprising got less than 10 percent of the seats. Many of them were not as well prepared for the election as the Islamists, particularly the Brotherhood.

Adel Musbah, a 30-year-old supporter of the ultraconservative Al-Nour party, said outside parliament that the protests organized by youth groups to demand that the military step down were pointless.

“Democracy brought the people inside now. Those inside were elected by the people,” he said. “Why are these coming to object? The people chose and it wasn’t them. They (protesters) are not the people. … The only legitimacy is inside parliament.”

Adding to the tension were Brotherhood volunteers who escorted their lawmakers into the parliament to protect them from protesters.

“I want to make sure that my representatives are safe. I want to celebrate and make sure that no one ruins this atmosphere. There are many who want to ruin it,” said Fathy el-Sayed, a 35-year-old Brotherhood supporter.

Others waited with flowers to give to lawmakers they supported. They chanted religious songs to the beat of drums.

The families of protesters killed or wounded in the 18-day uprising and subsequent street protests were there too, calling for those responsible to be brought swiftly to justice.

“This parliament has no legitimacy. These elections were held under the military council’s eyes and anything under them has no legitimacy,” said Mary Daniel, sister of a protester killed at an October rally violently broken up by army troops.

Some of the protesters wore masks made of photographs of those killed or wounded by security forces in the past year.

“Down, down with military rule!” they chanted. “No military and no Brotherhood!” source – Yahoo News

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Headline News

Shock at 1600: President Trump Hosts Former Al-Qaeda Commander Abu Mohammad al-Jolani At The White House In Stunning Display of End Times Politics

Published

1 month ago

November 11, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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Abu Mohammad al-Jolani receives a hero’s welcome at White House as the red carpet is rolled out for the former Al-Qaeda commander as sanctions on Syria lifted

In one of the most prophetically charged moments in modern geopolitics, Donald Trump has opened the doors of the White House to Syrian strongman Abu Mohammad al-Jolani, the onetime head of Al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch. The same man who once had a $10 million bounty on his head has now been greeted as a world leader by America’s Commander-in-Chief. Sanctions totaling over $120 billion have been rescinded, and Syria finds itself back in the money again. What will they do with it? That’s the memo.

“I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.” Amos 1:5 (KJB)

As Bible believers, we recognize exactly what’s happening here. The nations of the world are being reshaped before our very eyes to fit the prophetic pattern foretold in Scripture. The Word of God says plainly, “For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3 KJB). What the world calls diplomacy, Heaven calls delusion. President Trump, a man who has long styled himself as a deal-maker, is now attempting to make peace with one who has the blood of Christians and innocents on his hands — and yet the global elites hail it as progress. That, Christian, is how the end times begin to look in real time.

Just a few short years ago, the name Abu Mohammad al-Jolani was synonymous with terror, jihad, and Al-Qaeda’s campaign to establish a caliphate in Syria. Washington listed him among the most wanted terrorists on earth. Now, he’s walking the marbled halls of the White House, shaking hands with an American president.

How did we get here? The Department of State quietly lobbied the United Nations to lift sanctions against him. The Department of War has reportedly been exploring “security cooperation.” And the media, ever eager to rewrite the narrative, now calls him a “stabilizing influence.”

The last time Donald Trump was in office, he shocked the world by moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and brokering the Abraham Accords — deals that aligned Israel with Muslim nations like the UAE, Bahrain, and Morocco. Bible believers cheered those moves as prophetic milestones. But now, Trump’s second act is different. In trying to “make peace” with a man whose past is drenched in blood, he’s venturing into dangerous spiritual territory. Remember what the Lord said about the last-days confederation of nations:

“Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of trembling unto all the people round about, when they shall be in the siege both against Judah and against Jerusalem.” Zechariah 12:2 (KJB)

The modern Middle East isn’t moving toward peace; it’s being maneuvered toward the final confrontation described in Revelation 16. Every handshake, every summit, every “peace pact” is another step toward that fateful day.

Trump Hosts Syria’s Al-Sharaa At White House After Sanctions Waiver

In a historic and controversial moment, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa — once known as Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, the feared al-Qaeda commander — walked into the White House to meet US President Donald Trump on Monday. Once hunted by Washington with a $10 million bounty, al-Sharaa is now being welcomed as a partner, marking a stunning shift in Middle East diplomacy. The meeting aims to secure a political win for Trump, counter Russian influence in Syria, and support a fragile regional peace framework after the Israel–Hamas truce. Yet the visit raises global questions about morality, power, and realpolitik in Washington’s new Middle East strategy.

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“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Headline News

Houthi Drones And Missiles Supplied By Iran Causing Massive Disruption That The Combined Might Of The United States And Israel Seem Unable To Stop

Published

8 months ago

May 4, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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When a $20,000 missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels can bring down a US Reaper drone worth over $30 million, the cost of war takes on a new, troubling shape.

The is a perplexing problem in the Middle East, and no one seems willing or able to solve it. The problem? Houthi drones supplied to the rebels from Iran continue to cause major damage, as recently as yesterday, Houthi drones targeted and hit the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Netanyahu is fuming because Trump won’t allow Israel to attack Iran, and the United States also does not appear to have an appetite to do that, either. In the meantime, Iran has free reign to wreak havoc, through the Houthi drones, on targets in Israel and on US and international shipping interests in the Red Sea.

“And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your brethren go to war, and shall ye sit here?“ Numbers 32:6 (KJB)

The Houthi missile that hit the Ben Gurion Airport this weekend was somehow able to make its way through Iron Dome and US THAAD interceptors, that’s a bad sign. The missiles and drones used by the Houthis are supplied to them from Iran who continues to wage war by proxy against Israel and the United States with seeming impunity. I am beyond disappointed with the results of the first 100 days of the new Trump administration, it’s been nothing but a self-aggrandizing, flaming, chaotic mess. Somebody needs to step up and start showing some leadership and put Iran in their place before it’s too late.

COMING TO THE CAMP MEETING? PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO LET US KNOW HOW MANY ARE COMING WITH YOU, CLICK TO REGISTER!!

Houthi drones drain billions from West as Red Sea chaos escalates, experts say

FROM THE JERUSALEM POST: That imbalance is now defining the crisis in the Red Sea, where sustained attacks from Iranian-backed terrorists are draining Western defense budgets and disrupting the arteries of global commerce.

Over 800 strikes have been carried out by the United States against Houthi positions since March 15, yet the barrage of drones and missiles has not ceased. As Houthi forces target American, British, and Israeli-linked ships across one of the world’s most vital maritime corridors, military and economic pressure is intensifying on the US and its allies, with no end in sight.

According to British Colonel (ret.) Richard Kemp, who commanded forces in Afghanistan and has advised on Middle East security, said Iran’s fingerprints are all over the conflict. “This is Iran flexing its muscles,” Kemp said in an exclusive interview with The Media Line. “It’s not only about attacking Israel—it’s about showing that Tehran can hurt the West, especially economically, without ever firing a shot directly.” Kemp described the Houthis as one arm of what he called the “Iranian octopus,” used to deter Western attacks on Iran by threatening both military and commercial targets.

“It’s a way of saying: if you hit us, we’ll unleash chaos through our proxies,” he said. “And the Red Sea is one of the best places to do that.”

The economic disparity between offensive and defensive action in this conflict is staggering. While the Houthis fire relatively cheap projectiles—often made with imported components from Iran—intercepting them requires millions of dollars in sophisticated Western systems.

Janatan Sayeh, a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, explained that this isn’t accidental—it’s strategic. “This is asymmetric warfare by design,” Sayeh told The Media Line. “You don’t need to inflict mass casualties. You just need to make your adversary bleed money.” Sayeh detailed how the Houthis now assemble most of their weaponry inside Yemen. “Iran no longer sends complete missiles,” he said. “They send parts—drones, guidance systems, warheads—and the Houthis put them together locally, based on instructions. This modular system makes interception harder and enables a continuous supply chain.”

As long as the Houthis receive weapons, training, and political backing from Tehran, none of the experts interviewed believe the threat will disappear. “So long as the weapons are coming from Tehran,” said Sayeh, “this issue is going to persist.” Kemp echoed the same warning: “Unless we start thinking of this as a global strategy by Iran, we’ll keep losing this battle—one overpriced missile at a time.” READ MORE

American THAAD And Israeli Arrow Systems Failed To Stop Houthi Missile From Hitting Ben Gurion

A Houthi ballistic missile struck near Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport, exposing a stunning failure of both Israel’s Arrow and America’s THAAD air defense systems. Flights were halted, air raid sirens blared, and at least six people were injured as the missile penetrated all layers of defense. The attack, claimed by Yemen’s Houthis, left both Israel and the U.S. embarrassed and scrambling for answers.

Now The End Begins is your front line defense against the rising tide of darkness in the last Days before the Rapture of the Church

HOW TO DONATE: Click here to view our WayGiver Funding page

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;” Titus 2:13 (KJB)

“Thank you very much!” – Geoffrey, editor-in-chief, NTEB

Headline News

Residents Of North Texas Debate Plans For The All-Muslim ‘Epic City’ 400 Acre Compound To Be Built By The East Plano Islamic Center

Published

9 months ago

April 1, 2025

Geoffrey Grider

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The East Plano Islamic Center in north Texas wants to create an exclusive Muslim enclave called ‘Epic City’ on 400 acre tract of unincorporated land in Collin County

There are dumb ideas, bad ideas, and ideas so incomprehensible they beggar description, Epic City is one of those ideas that ought never to come to pass. Now we know that not all Muslims are terrorists, but ten percent of them are. We know that there are many fine, upstanding and patriotic Muslim Americans who love this country and would fight to defend it. We also know that we live in the age of global Islamic terrorism, and building a all-Muslim supercity in the beating heart of Texas is an idea that should be shot down the first time it’s brought to light.

“And he will be a wild man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.” Genesis 16:12 (KJB)

Residents in Collin County, Texas, spent over half the day debating the merits of the proposed and so-called Epic City, and as much as I would like to think the idea was roundly rejected, I don’t think it was. Ever see those videos where hundreds of rug-carrying Muslims have descended on a busy downtown street, and with police protection, they are somehow allowed to stop all traffic while they pray to their god? Ever ask yourself how could that happen, and could that happen in my town? The answer is simple. America is a nation built on Christian principles, and while we have freedom of religion which is a good thing, a 400 acre Muslim Epic City is not. To quote DL Moody, “no, NO, a thousand times no!” to the plans for Epic City. Epic City would become it’s own town, and would govern itself according to Sharia Law. Remember the Alamo, that’s the memo.

AMERICA IS A NATION FOUNDED ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES AND EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS BOOK TO SEE THAT FOR THEMSELVES, CLICK TO ORDER!!

Community divided over proposed Muslim-focused EPIC City in Collin County amid state investigations

FROM CBS NEWS TEXAS: Dozens of North Texas residents are speaking out about a proposed community catering to Muslims in an unincorporated part of Collin County near Josephine after several state investigations were recently launched into the project and the mosque it is tied to – The East Plano Islamic Center.

A four-and-a-half-hour meeting at Collin County Commissioner Court Monday gave residents their first chance to share their comments on EPIC City, the proposed Muslim-focused community that includes a thousand homes, a mosque, a community college and more spanning 400 acres about 40 miles northeast of Dallas.

“We all want safe, inclusive communities that require transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law. EPIC City fails on all three,” one speaker said.

“To allow a new group to claim and execute a 400-acre segregated city is the height of insanity,” another speaker said.

“These individuals deserve treatment and real representation. We must advocate for an inclusive Texas,” said Collin County resident, Dylan Evans, supporting the project.

BREAKING NEWS: North Texas residents debating whether or not to allow plans for an exclusive all-Muslim compound called Epic City on 400 acres that would govern and regulate itself. This will be the birthplace of Sharia Law in America if passed. pic.twitter.com/tgcsjxesQy

— Now The End Begins (@NowTheEndBegins) April 1, 2025

Monday’s meeting comes after the state launched five investigations into EPIC City, as well as East Plano Islamic Center and investment group Community Capital Partners, which is heading the project.

Attorney General Ken Paxton is investigating CCP for potential consumer protection violations. In a news release, Paxton said the development raised several concerns.

“Under my watch, there will be zero tolerance for any person or entity that breaks Texas law,” Paxton said.

On Monday, Gov. Greg Abbott announced the latest investigation into EPIC City, saying in a statement he has directed the Texas Rangers to investigate EPIC and any affiliated entities for “potential criminal activities.”

“I think this is just adding more fuel to the fire. And, you know, I’m not happy about that,” said Texas State Rep. Salman Bhojani, D-District 92.

Bhojani is the first Muslim elected official in Texas history and said the attack on the project is a violation of religious freedom.

“I’m here to fight for every Texan’s right to religious freedom,” Bhojani said. “I’m also a real estate attorney. I know a lot of developments in North Texas that exactly mimic [EPIC City]. So, there’s nothing illegal about that. This is something that we should be protecting in the state of Texas, not demonizing it. Also, I think this is going to really increase the property value around Josephine.”

EPIC public relations representative Erin Ragsdale told county leaders that the plan is open to everyone and will comply with local, state, and federal laws.

“The idea for EPIC City came from the idea of building a master plan neighborhood that would be for all generations,” Ragsdale said. “Their vision is to build an inclusive community for everyone. I don’t think that we would be here today at this early stage if there were plans to float around for a master-planned community with a place of worship that was Christian.”

Commissioners shared their concerns in lieu of the active investigations, making the future of the project even more uncertain.

“This is not building a place of worship or attending a place of worship, it’s about the vision of building a housing development that would limit access and control housing opportunities,” said Collin County Judge Chris Hill. READ MORE

‘Very concerning’: Hundreds of Muslims gather to pray on Toronto streets

Iranian Canadian politician Goldie Ghamari has expressed concern over recent footage showing hundreds of Muslims gathering on Toronto’s streets to pray for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.