Muslim Brotherhood will 'Openly Engage' with UK Probe, but Warns Against Ex-Saudi Ambassador's Involvement

The Muslim Brotherhood has claimed that it will “openly engage” with the British Government’s investigation into the Islamist group, but has warned against what it called “any improper attempt to restrict its activity”.

Prime Minister David Cameron announced an urgent investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood on Monday, wherein he said: “What I think is important about the Muslim Brotherhood is that we understand what this organisation is, what it stands for, what its beliefs are in terms of the path of extremism and violent extremism, what its connections are with other groups, what its presence is here in the United Kingdom.”

The Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement late last night, which claimed that the group was willing to co-operate, though raised suspicions over the leadership of the investigation by the UK’s former Saudi Arabia Ambassador Sir John Jenkins.

The statement, from the ‘Muslim Brotherhood London Press Office’, reads: 

The Muslim Brotherhood is a lawful organisation which promotes the rule of law and democracy in the many countries in which it has a presence. It does not engage in or promote acts of violence in order to achieve its aims.

The Muslim Brotherhood welcomes all opportunities to engage with Governments in order to bring a better understanding about the aims and methods of the Muslim Brotherhood and how it intends to return Egypt to a democratic and civil society.

The Muslim Brotherhood intends to openly engage with the British Government’s review and will make representations to assist the Government’s inquiry into the organisation’s philosophy and values, its policies and its track record both in and out of Government. The Muslim Brotherhood has engaged former Director of Public Prosecutions, Lord Macdonald of River Glaven QC, and ITN solicitors to advise it in this process.

It is essential that such an important process is conducted fairly. The Muslim Brotherhood has concerns about the appointment of Britain’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Sir John Jenkins, to lead the review. It is important that the British Government does not bend to pressure from foreign Governments who are concerned about their own people’s quest for democracy. It is hard to see how Sir John Jenkins will be able to conduct an independent internal review of the Muslim Brotherhood and carry his brief as Ambassador to a non- democratic regime that is openly in political opposition to the Muslim Brotherhood.

It should be understood that whilst the Muslim Brotherhood is prepared to engage with the British Government’s review the Muslim Brotherhood will challenge, through the British Courts, any improper attempt to restrict its activity.

Yesterday Breitbart London reported that Tariq Ramadan, the grandson of the Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al Banna, was recently appointed to a UK government taskforce on freedom of religion.