Egypt (MNN) — Last week's presidential elections narrowed the options down to two candidates for Egypt's June run-off. But many believe the Muslim Brotherhood already has the election in the bag.
Mohammed Mursi and Ahmed Shafiq will compete for the presidency in a final election on June 16 and 17. Mursi is with the Muslim Brotherhood, and Shafiq is a former Mubarak supporter–a man many are calling a "feloul" or "remnant" of the Mubarak era.
Since Mubarak's tyrannical reign is what set off the revolution in Egypt nearly a year and a half ago, Tom Doyle with e3 Partners says it's pretty unlikely anyone aligned with Mubarak could win the presidency.
"Pitting a former Mubarak leader against the Brotherhood: [because] many of the people in Egypt are so opposed to Mubarak's corrupt reign, I think that helps the Brotherhood. I'm sure that's what [the Brotherhood] wanted all along," says Doyle.
As if a Muslim Brotherhood candidate would not already be a shoo-in when up against a Mubarak man, Mursi has been making wide promises for freedom and tolerance which may gain him some more votes. The BBC reports that he would provide representation for women and children if elected. He even promised yesterday that he would put a Christian on his advisory board and would invite one to be his vice president "if possible."
It sounds like welcome news, but Doyle reminds us that Mursi is first and foremost for the Muslim Brotherhood, which tried to topple Mubarak for three decades.
"They see themselves as the leader of Arab Islam. They didn't want a secular leader to begin with–that's why they were always trying to get rid of Mubarak. So I think they'll make a lot of promises, but I know that believers there just don't trust them," says Doyle.
Christians in general will be worse for the wear if Mursi takes office, says Doyle. Persecution is anything but rare in Egypt, and during Mubarak's reign, Egypt earned a spot at #15 on the Open Doors World Watch List for the persecution of believers.
"That was under Mubarak, a secular Muslim," Doyle points out. "Now, this is a religious Muslim. It just couldn't get anything but worse in Egypt as far as the pressure and persecution of believers. But it's not going to stop the church."
The church will not back down in its role to fulfill the Great Commission in Egypt, says Doyle, no matter who wins the election. But the next couple of weeks are likely to invite more protests and attacks for all of Egypt, especially as the results of the run-off come out.
"I would expect that it will be fairly volatile no matter who gets elected," Doyle agrees.
Prayer is vital for Egypt. Pray for the Lord's will to be done in the coming final elections. Pray for protection for believers and for the Gospel to move forward more than ever throughout the trials ahead.
e3 Partners has Gospel work in Egypt. Learn more and help them out here.
