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The Muslim Brotherhood’s community ties

A network of community ties and charitable work could give the Islamist group a boost at the polls in Egypt.

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April 6, 2011

Taha Haroum, 37, who runs a stationary supply shop, said the Muslim Brotherhood is deeply involved in the everyday life of his village of Awseem, outside Cairo, because of its social services. “They have the ability to knock on every door," he says. “They are the strongest political power in Egypt.”

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

Many Egyptians say the Brotherhood’s record as a full-service provider for body and soul in urban slums and small villages such as Awseem has placed the organization in a good position to transform its religious and social agenda into political power as Egypt’s revolution unfolds.

April 6, 2011

Many Egyptians say the Brotherhood’s record as a full-service provider for body and soul in urban slums and small villages such as Awseem has placed the organization in a good position to transform its religious and social agenda into political power as Egypt’s revolution unfolds.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

Members of the formerly outlawed Muslim Brotherhood focus on social services. As leaders of a charity named al-Berwa al-Heirat, Brotherhood members in the village of Awseem have given a widow an oven for baking bread so she can support her children. They have also given a sewing machine to another widow and have purchased uniforms for a girls school, distributed free rice and arranged marriages for orphaned girls.

April 6, 2011

Members of the formerly outlawed Muslim Brotherhood focus on social services. As leaders of a charity named al-Berwa al-Heirat, Brotherhood members in the village of Awseem have given a widow an oven for baking bread so she can support her children. They have also given a sewing machine to another widow and have purchased uniforms for a girls school, distributed free rice and arranged marriages for orphaned girls.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

The Muslim Brotherhood has forged close ties with villages and urban slums through its record of offering religious and social services to the nation's poor. “They're good. They advise people to be a good person instead of sitting around in a coffee shop for two hours a day doing nothing,' said Mahmoud Khalef, 33, a baker who lives in Awseem.

April 6, 2011

The Muslim Brotherhood has forged close ties with villages and urban slums through its record of offering religious and social services to the nation's poor. “They're good. They advise people to be a good person instead of sitting around in a coffee shop for two hours a day doing nothing," said Mahmoud Khalef, 33, a baker who lives in Awseem.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

Mohammad Shabane, 34, a butcher who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, is one of the leaders of an Islamic charity that provides an array of religious and social services.

April 6, 2011

Mohammad Shabane, 34, a butcher who belongs to the Muslim Brotherhood, is one of the leaders of an Islamic charity that provides an array of religious and social services.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

Maher Ahmed, 33, left, a religious teacher, and Mohamad el-Seesy, 45, are members of the Muslim Brotherhood who lead an Islamic charity in Awseem.

April 6, 2011

Maher Ahmed, 33, left, a religious teacher, and Mohamad el-Seesy, 45, are members of the Muslim Brotherhood who lead an Islamic charity in Awseem.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

The Muslim Brotherhood has emerged as one of the most formidable contenders in Egypt’s new political landscape, largely because of its well-disciplined and well-funded organization. Its social services efforts in places such as Awseem, shown here, could also be smart politics.

April 6, 2011

The Muslim Brotherhood has emerged as one of the most formidable contenders in Egypt’s new political landscape, largely because of its well-disciplined and well-funded organization. Its social services efforts in places such as Awseem, shown here, could also be smart politics.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

A banner for al-Berwa al-Heirat, an Islamic charity run by Brotherhood members, hangs in an area used for daily prayers.

April 6, 2011

A banner for al-Berwa al-Heirat, an Islamic charity run by Brotherhood members, hangs in an area used for daily prayers.

Fredrick Kunkle / The Washington Post

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