Building and Development Party
The Building and Development Party (Arabic: حزب البناء والتنمية, romanized: Hizb el-Benaa wa el-Tanmia, alternatively translated as Construction and Development Party) is an Islamist political party in Egypt.
Building and Development Party حزب البناء والتنمية El-Benaa Wa El-Tanmia | |
---|---|
Chairman | Tarek al-Zumar[1] |
Founded | 20 June 2011 |
Ideology | Islamism Economic liberalism Conservatism |
Political position | Centre-right |
National affiliation | National Legitimacy Support Coalition[2] |
House of Representatives | 0 / 568
|
Initiated by the al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya ("Islamic Group"), it is seen as the political wing of the movement.[3][4] The party was established on 20 June 2011,[5] following the 2011 Egyptian revolution, and officially endorsed by the Supreme Administrative Court on 10 October 2011.[6] The Building and Development Party has participated in the 2011–12 Egyptian parliamentary election as part of the Alliance for Egypt (dubbed as the "Islamist Bloc"), led by the Salafist Al-Nour Party.[7] The possible dissolution of the party is being investigated by the Political Parties Affairs Committee.[8]
According to its manifesto, the party stands for a representative democracy with institutions guided by the principles of the Sharia, while rejecting any form of theocracy. Moreover, it favours a free economy and questions the size of the public sector.[9] Among the party's ranks is Abbud al-Zumar, who was imprisoned for nearly twenty years for involvement in the assassination of the Egyptian president Anwar Sadat.[10]
The group has accepted the resignation of Assem Abdel Magued following his incitement against the Egyptian military; the organization has expressed its commitment to peace following the coup that toppled Mohamed Morsi.[11] The party considered leaving the Anti-Coup Alliance; it has called for reconciliation with the Sisi administration.[12] al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya, the parent organization of the party, is considering participating in the 2015 parliamentary election.[13]
Lawsuit against Islamic parties
The Building and Development Party is one of the eleven Islamic parties targeted by a lawsuit in November 2014, when an organization named Popular Front for opposing the Brotherhoodization of Egypt sought to dissolve all political parties established "on a religious basis."[14] The Alexandria Urgent Matters Court however ruled on 26 November 2014 that it lacked jurisdiction.[15]
References
- "Tarek El Zomor elected new secretary general for Building and Development party". Daily News Egypt. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
- "Islamist forces join together for Rabaa Al-Adaweya protest", Daily News Egypt, 28 June 2013, retrieved 13 December 2013
- Sanger-Weaver, Jodi (8 November 2011), "Elections in Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood, Theocracy and Democracy", Prospect, retrieved 13 December 2013
- "Al-Banna' wa al-Tanmiyya (Building and Development Party)", Guide to Egypt's Transition, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, archived from the original on 2012-01-23, retrieved 13 December 2013
- "The Construction and Development Party (Al Jamaah Al Islamiya)", Egyptian Elections 2011, The Danish Egyptian Dialogue Institute, archived from the original on 13 October 2014, retrieved 3 November 2014
- el-Karanshawi, Shaimaa (10 October 2011), "Egyptian court approves new political parties", Egypt Independent, retrieved 3 November 2014
- "Islamist Bloc (Alliance for Egypt)", Egypt Elections Watch, Jadaliyya and Ahram Online, 18 November 2011, retrieved 13 December 2013
- "Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's political wing faces possible dissolution over terrorism charges", Daily News Egypt, 2 September 2014, retrieved 17 September 2014
- "The Building and Development Party (Al-Benaa Wal Tanmeya)", Egypt Electionnaire, retrieved 13 December 2013
- "Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's party hold first press conference in Aswan, Upper Egypt", Ahram Online, 21 October 2011, retrieved 13 December 2013
- Jama'a al-Islamiya rejects Assem Abdel Magued, Egypt Independent, 5 December 2013, retrieved 13 December 2013
- Watan Party withdraws from NASL, Egypt Independent, 17 September 2014, retrieved 17 September 2014
- ""الجماعة الإسلامية": لم نحسم موقفنا من الانتخاباتالبرلمانية حتى الآن". Youm7. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.
- Auf, Yussef (25 November 2014). "Political Islam's Fate in Egypt Lies in the Hands of the Courts". Atlantic Council. Retrieved 1 December 2014.
- "Court claims no jurisdiction over religiously affiliated parties". Daily News Egypt. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2014.