Islam and Ra

[jafar]

Ill try to finish on a high note:
I hope the "Arab Spring" will slowly produce a more progressive form of Islam, balancing between the right things and the things that should be left in the past.
The people will need time, in Egypt for example: The Muslim brotherhood has been oppressed for decades, so its no wonder they won the election. The case is similar in many Arabic countries.
I think the people need time to go through the religious state phase.
I hope they realize this is their chance to show the world Islam isn't the satanic/barbaric religion some anti islamic westerns try to portray it as, but a beautiful one from which the whole world can learn a thing or two.

I realize this post is from 2012, but when I saw this part of OP's post I almost spit out my coffee laughing.

Yeah I think the OP's is too naive and mixing up middle east politics, arabs and Islam.

There are hundreds of factions within the group called Islam.
Not all Arabs identifying themselves with Islam identity.
Not all Middle Easterners identifying themselves as Arabs.

When there's a conflict between A vs B, people tend to see A as the 'good' guys and B as the 'bad' guys or vice versa.
My observation shows otherwise, when there's a conflict between A vs B, more often both A and B are the 'bad' guys.
By 'bad' guys here mean both group have their own self-centered objective in mind, which can only be achieved when their enemies / opposition are beaten or conquered.

The Muslim Brotherhood, a.k.a "Ikhwanul Muslimin" is a right wing political group it has many enemies both within Egypt and also in the region. In the region their enemies are: The Zionists (Israel), The Wahhabis (Saudi Arabia), The Shiites and The Arab Nationalist groups.

It was actually born as an opposition to the conception of "Pan Arabism" prevalent in early 20th century, through a conception of "Pan Islamism". Within Egypt their enemies are: The Military, The Egyptian Nationalist, The Pan Arabism (Albeit very few people left in this group) and The Copts. As an example, harassments to the Coptic churches increases when they're in power, as the Copts do not subscribe to the idea of "Pan Islamism". The MB / IM is basically yet another group who uses religion to grab power in politics.

But wait, isn't The Wahabbis (Saudi Arabia) also an Islamic political group?
Well yes... but Pan Islamism doesn't fit to the agenda of The Saud family, as Pan Islamism mean that their kingdom will be abolished. As thus The Saud and it's supporters (The Wahabis) see MB/IM as a threat thus declare them as "terrorist organization".

And how about Iran and The Shiites? Aren't they Islam too? Well "Pan Islamism" as envisioned by MB/IM actually mean "Pan Sunniism" which of course exclude the "Non Sunnis" such as The Shiites as they're considered to be "Non Muslim" an "Infidel" a "Kuffar" by the Sunnis.

I better stop here, as telling the story about conflict in middle east will need a dedicated forum on it's own due to it long history of animosity and complexity.

Basically every group hates every other group in middle east.
I guess it has been as such since at least 3000 years ago.
Yet it offer many rich case studies for those who want to study STS path or group.