Building and Development Party

Building and Development Party
حزب البناء والتنمية
El-Benaa Wa El-Tanmia
ChairmanTarek al-Zumar[1]
Founded20 June 2011 (2011-06-20)
IdeologyIslamism
Economic liberalism
Conservatism
Political positionCentre-right
National affiliationNational Legitimacy Support Coalition[2]
House of Representatives
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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.

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]

  1. ^ "Tarek El Zomor elected new secretary general for Building and Development party". Daily News Egypt. 28 June 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Islamist forces join together for Rabaa Al-Adaweya protest", Daily News Egypt, 28 June 2013, retrieved 13 December 2013
  3. ^ Sanger-Weaver, Jodi (8 November 2011), "Elections in Egypt: The Muslim Brotherhood, Theocracy and Democracy", Prospect, retrieved 13 December 2013
  4. ^ "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
  5. ^ "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
  6. ^ el-Karanshawi, Shaimaa (10 October 2011), "Egyptian court approves new political parties", Egypt Independent, retrieved 3 November 2014
  7. ^ "Islamist Bloc (Alliance for Egypt)", Egypt Elections Watch, Jadaliyya and Ahram Online, 18 November 2011, retrieved 13 December 2013
  8. ^ "Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's political wing faces possible dissolution over terrorism charges", Daily News Egypt, 2 September 2014, retrieved 17 September 2014
  9. ^ "The Building and Development Party (Al-Benaa Wal Tanmeya)", Egypt Electionnaire, retrieved 13 December 2013
  10. ^ "Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's party hold first press conference in Aswan, Upper Egypt", Ahram Online, 21 October 2011, retrieved 13 December 2013
  11. ^ Jama'a al-Islamiya rejects Assem Abdel Magued, Egypt Independent, 5 December 2013, retrieved 13 December 2013
  12. ^ Watan Party withdraws from NASL, Egypt Independent, 17 September 2014, retrieved 17 September 2014
  13. ^ ""الجماعة الإسلامية": لم نحسم موقفنا من الانتخاباتالبرلمانية حتى الآن". Youm7. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2014.