Jordan: Islamists and the Palace rearrange cooperations
Jordan, Politics, 6/13/2003

The parliamentary elections in Jordan constituted an opportunity for the return back of the Islamist labor front party to give up its political boycott and opened the door for participation in the elections for maintaining best relations between the royal court and the Islamists.

Although the Ikswan al-Muslimin (Muslim Brother) movement in Jordan is known traditionally of committing to the regime and excellent relations with the Palace, however, this situation has become different following the death of King Hussein.

The Islamic leaderships in Jordan admit openly that the "warm relations" that used to link them with King Hussein are not the same with king Abdullah II due to the different political conditions, the international and regional challenges, while the most important is the difference in mentality, the age gap and the generations. It can be said that visits of Islamists officials to Raghadan palace became less frequent since 1999 and contacts became luke warm.

However, and despite the different stances and positions between the highest authority in the Kingdom and the greatest people's force on the ground, a meeting was arranged at the mediation of "good offices" between the general observer of the Muslim Brothers, Abdul Majid Zneibat, and the King and the agreement between the two sides stated that the Islamic front will have a bloc at the new Parliament.

This detente opens a news page in the relations and furnishes for the beginning of continued dialogues between the front and the king. This experience seem to have tought both sides a lesson. The Muslim Brothers learnt from their optional absence for six years from the parliament which is a long time for any people's party to be absent from authority, while the government has realized that there is no value nor a credibility for the council if the first and largest part in the country is out of it.

It is known that the Muslim Brothers movement and the Islamic labor movement party took part in most of the parliamentary council since the 1950s with the exception of periods of time in which they boycotted one in the 1950s and another election session in 1997.

The secretary general of the Islamic labor front, (know in Arabic as Jabhet al-Amal al-Islami), Sheikh Hamza Mansour, said that the boycott decision which was taken in 1997 was not unanimous and that certain members had reservations on it and that despite this, the option of boycotting won. When he was asked about the reason for boycotting he said "it was sending a message to decision maker, of rejecting the elections. rejection of vast sectors of people of the law of elections."

However, after 6 years the front made a comprehensive revision for the boycott phase. Despite the government's cling to the elections law and margining the political life, the Islamic front leadership will mostly take part now, because of the current grave developments taking place in Iraq and Palestine and their reflections on Jordan.

Sheikh Hamza stresses that "Jordan's safety and stability is dear and very important. we can sacrifice every thing we own to preserve the security of the country. We do not view that as a national political duty, rather a religious duty." He believes that maintaining the country's stability can be by two elements: total harmony between the official and people's sides concerning security and national unity and harmony with Jordan's Arab environment.

He indicated that the Islamic labor front monitors and recognizes the Israeli ambitions and the "Zionist dreams which consider the east bank as part of Torah's Israel."

Confirming its presence, the front nominates 29 men and one woman in 26 election circles out of 40 in Amman, Irbid, al-Zarqa and al-Karak.

The front supports woman's joining the parliament. It embarks on a jurisprudence study circulated on all Islamic movements in the Arab and Islamic world calling for the need of women's involvement in the political activity as a candidate and a voter.

However, organized work which the organization is known for resulted in dismembering five members who nominated themselves as independents and outside of the list of the party. They are Abdul Menem Abu Zant, Muhammad Abu Dawla, Muhammad Salim Moumimni, Rajeh Salhab and Saleh Sheishani. This group belongs to the wing of Ishak al-Farhan, one of the leaders of the split Muslim Brothers movement.

According to the deputy chairman of the Islamic labor party, Jamil Abu Baker, "the criterion for our participation or boycott is governed and measures by democratic practice."

Previous Stories:
  Jordan: Legislative elections, a test for the role of woman   (6/12/2003)
  Two Jordanian journalists freed, a third was arrested   (2/21/2003)
  Report warns the Jordanian government: Maan incidents was: red warning   (2/20/2003)
  Jordanian Islamists annoyed by prince Nayef; Curfew lift from Maan   (11/27/2002)

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