THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

12DR MOHAMMED BADIESupreme Guide of the Muslim BrotherhoodDr Mohammed Badie succeeded Mohammad MahdiAkef—who became the first Supreme Guide of theMuslim Brotherhood to step down from his post—asthe 8th Supreme Guide in January 2010. Badie is a professorof veterinary pathology at Beni-Suef Universityin southern Egypt, but has been elected due to his workwith the Administrative offices, Education Association,and subsequently, the International Guidance Bureauof the Muslim Brotherhood, which is the largest Islamicpolitical party in Egypt.Leader of an Expansive Muslim NetworkDr Badie heads the oldest and largest Muslim social,religious, and political organization in existence. TheCountry: EgyptDate of Birth: 7 August 1943Source of Influence: Administrative,Political, InternationalIslamic NetworksInfluence: Leader of a transnationalmovement in Egypt andacross the Middle East, Africa,the UK, and USSchool of Thought: Sunni,Muslim BrotherhoodRank: 2010:12Muslim Brotherhood forms the leading opposition party in many Muslim countries and hasbranches in most of the Muslim world, besides its base in Egypt. Members of the organizationcan be found in Bahrain, Syria, Palestine, Israel, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Algeria,Sudan, Somalia, Tunisia, and Libya, as well as the United States. In light of its expanse,Dr Badie is a strong advocate of internal unity within the Brotherhood as well as globally,between all Muslims.Reformist LeaderDr Badie represents a conservative shift in the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood. Due tohis background in education and religious conservatism, analysts predict that he will emphasizethe Brotherhood’s social work, moving away from an overly political and activist program.Though he has been imprisoned in the past on multiple occasions due to political activities,Dr Badie stressed in his inaugural address the need for gradual reform based on dialogue andnon-violence. This is seen as a response to recent arrests of Muslim Brotherhood members, andincreasing pressure from the Egyptian government.Head of a Leading Islamic Reform MovementThe Brotherhood has historically advocated political activism and charity work with a distinctivetake on Islamic law, stating that apostasy should not be punishable, rather permittedas a freedom to all Muslims. With a firm belief that constitutional reform is possible in Egypt,the Brotherhood encourages Muslims to be more proactive in staking their claims to a morerepresentative and more Islamic government. The Muslim Brotherhood’s mission of politicalactivism and economic development in Muslim countries is meant to be an internal process,without the interference of foreign entities.What makes the organization’s work distinct and far more influential than other Islamicpolitical parties is the emphasis on making faith a guidepost in all political endeavors and,importantly, neither a hindrance to political progress nor a deficiency. This has been both asource of massive support, and also criticism—critics saw that the use of ‘Islam is the Solution’as a campaign slogan took away from the Brotherhood’s legitimacy as a political organization.50