ON THE ELECTION IN EGYPT

ON THE ELECTION IN EGYPT Ignoring the teleguided demonstrators in Tahrir Square, Egyptians trooped out in their millions today to vote in parliamentary elections. The Muslim Brotherhood is expected to sweep the polls in view of its recent popularity and its proactive stance. The Islamic Salafi party is also rated next to the Muslim Brotherhood. What is not clear to many is that most of those who occupy Tahrir Square at present were encouraged to do so in order to prevent  today's elections from taking place. It  is becoming clear to the demonstrators that Islamic parties are becoming very popular in Egypt. So they decided to doctor developments and railroad the military into a premature handover of power to a handpicked 5-man committee made up of Muslims and Christian Copts.  They were fully aware that the Islamic parties were most likely to sweep the polls. They  therefore resolved to gain by the bends what they cannot gain in the straights.  The message is clear. Husni Mubarak had kept the activities of Islamic activists at bay for decades. Thousands of those who demanded Shari'ah languished in jail. The West looked the other way because the Egyptian tyrant was doing the West's bidding.  We await the next gameplan of the West now that it is obvious the Egyptians are voting for Islamic parties. We are not too sure that NATO's murderous bombers will not descend on Egyptians for daring to vote for 'terrorists'.  The emerging facts tend to confirm our thesis: that whereas the Muslims in the Arab world craved Islamic rule, the West dictated something else to Arab leaders. Now the same West is shedding crocodile tears over the atrocities committed by leaders like Mubarak in Egypt, Saleh in Yemen, Buteflika in Algeria, Zayin al-Abideen Bin Ali in Tunisia, etc.  We watched in the past few days how attempts were made to paint the exercise in Egypt in secular colours. Popular international cable networks (including Al-Jazeerah) made frantic efforts to play down the popularity of the Islamic parties. Interviews granted by them were focussed on minority Christian Copts who wasted no time bashing the Muslim Brotherhood. The impression was being created that Egyptians did not want any religious party to take over from the military. We reject this irresponsible, deceitful and misleading doctoring of the electoral process. We call on the Muslims of Egypt to use their indubitable majority to assert their right to good Islamic governance. If democracy is trully a game of numbers, then the majority Muslims of Egypt should be able to determine where the political pendulum should swing.  For durable peace in the world, the West must learn to leave the Muslims alone. Let the Muslims establish the system of government of their choice where they are in the majority. To continue to sponsor the cause of a non-Muslim minority is a crime against freedom and a disservice to true democracy. Let the Muslims go! Is-haq Akintola (Ph.D), Associate Professor of Islamic Studies, Lagos State University, P.O. Box 10211, LASU Post Office, HO 102 101, Ojo, Lagos, Nigeria. Tel. 234-803-346-4974   I remain oppressed untill the hungry are fed, the naked clothed, the sick healed and the homeless sheltered