The ouster of former Egyptian President Muhammad Morsi marked a huge setback for political Islam as a powerful political force in the region. The Muslim Brotherhood's rise during the Arab Spring had unsettled many Gulf states which feared it would strengthen Islamists at home. Hence, most Gulf States – with the exception of Qatar – endorsed the military’s intervention in Egypt and were quick to recognize the current interim government.
Though thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members were granted entry into Gulf states during Gamal Abdul Nasser’s crackdown on the Islamists in Egypt during the 1950s and 1960s, relations between the Muslim Brotherhood and many Gulf countries have cooled in recent years. In June 2011, this relationship reached a new low when the United Arab Emirates launched a campaign against Muslim Brotherhood members following the dismantling of a local Brotherhood organization accused of plotting against state security. As the Muslim Brotherhood gained power and influence in the post-revolutionary politics of Arab Spring countries such as Tunisia, Gulf leaders who view the group with suspicion were increasingly alarmed.
This Brookings Doha Center discussion aims to address the difficult relationship between the Gulf states and the Muslim Brotherhood in the wake of the recent developments in Egypt. What are the main factors preventing improved relations? Can these differences be overcome to develop closer ties and address important regional issues in a cooperative manner?
To register for the event, please send an e-mail with your name and the name of any additional attendees to dohacenter@brookings.edu.