Egypt: Interview With Gamal El-Banna

This is the most recent media coverage in the Egyptian press on the status of the Baha'i Faith in that country. On 21 October 2006 al-Masry al-Youm newspaper published an interview with the Islamic scholar and prominent Egyptian liberal thinker Gamal el-Banna. The article was entitled "You ask and Gamal el-Banna answers on the truth of Baha'iyyah."

Gamal el-Banna is known in the Egyptian society as a progressive, moderate and liberal thinker who is also a scholar who has published several books and manuscripts on various aspects of reform of religion and Islam as it applies to the modern Egyptian society.

On several occasions, el-Banna has publicly defended the civil rights of Egyptian Baha'is, and their entitlement to recognition and equal treatment under the law.

His older brother Hassan el-Banna founded the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Egypt's Suez Canal city of Ismailia in 1928. The movement was subsequently outlawed, its followers were incarcerated over the years, and its founder was assassinated in 1949.

In contrast to the moderate and reformist Gamal el-Banna, his brother Hassan had contributed greatly to the persecution of the Baha'is in Ismailia, and his movement has been the main source of opposition to the Baha'i Faith in Egypt since the movement's inception in Ismailia.

The newspaper journalist asked Gamal el-Banna several penetrating and insightful questions, the responses of el-Banna were guarded, but appropriate. However, some of his answers were not quite accurate, particularly when he mentioned that Baha'is worship the number nineteen. It is apparent that this particular answer was not based on independent investigation of the Baha'i Faith, but rather repetition of misinformation that has been circulated by enemies of the Baha'i Faith, In fact, having heard and seen some of the interviews with Gamal el-Banna, one would have no doubt that in time, and through independent study of the Baha'i Faith, he would be able to determine for himself the truth and facts regarding the principles and noble teachings of the Faith, and it would become clear to him that there is no such a thing as worshiping a mere number.

He said, "...but the freedom of belief forces us to leave them [Baha'is] to the choice they made for themselves, this is their right, and I believe that it is in their right that they are documented as Baha'is in the ID Card and official documents."

He later stated that "even though the idea of recognizing the three religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity [in Egypt] is a sound one, yet in China and India there are as many believers [in other religions] as there are in the mentioned three religions. God [in the Qur'an] has said...you have your religion and I have mine...so he ruled that even the unbelievers have their own religion, at least in the eyes of those who believe in these words, and that [the unbelievers] have just the same rights as the believers."

Another interesting fact about this honorable man is that, even though he disagreed with and opposed his brother's teachings and inclinations, he continues to hold respect and love for his late older brother. This became clear when he was asked by the reporter about the plans for a film depicting the life of his brother. Gamal indicated that the fact that he is the brother of Hassan is irrelevant since Hassan was and is considered a public figure rather than just a family member.

For further reading (in Arabic) about this particular news item, please refer to a recently published post at this site.