The Egyptian Parliamentary elections were characterized by deadly violence, foul play and injustice. Competition between the rivals was fierce, and at least 11 people died and hundreds more injured.

The independent party, Muslim Brotherhood, and the National Democratic Party (NDP) were competing for the 454 seats in Parliament. These elections were held in various parts of Egypt, including Old Cairo, Beni Suef (south of Cairo), Giza, Nasr City, and Alexandria. In order to supervise the ballot boxes and overall election process, the elections were conducted in three stages over a month’s period, ending on December 7, 2005.

Egyptian Americans were asked about their opinions on the election. They responded openly and passionately as if they were still living in their homeland. Feelings of anger, resentment and fear were expressed by Egyptians of different faiths. Techniques, such as vote buying, intimidation, rigging of ballot boxes, preventing monitors from entering polling stations, and police blocking voters from entering voting stations were used to deter people from voting for the opposing party.

“This is not what you call elections. They’re paying money for votes,” said Maher Saleeb.

Fady Yassa believed that members of the Muslim Brotherhood paid money to people to votes in their favor. The National Democratic Party was accused of vote-buying by journalists who were attacked.

“It’s sad to go through such violence,” said Waleed Mitwalli. A woman was shot and injured in Old Cairo, tables were thrown, people were beaten with wooden clubs, stones were tossed, shots were fired, and the driver of an independent candidate was killed in Alexandria during the second round of elections.

“They show pictures in Al-Ahran on Al-Jazeera with someone holding a knife, and they show someone’s face with blood on it,” said Saleeb. “What kind of elections are these?”

Supporters of both parties were held accountable. The Independent Committee on Election Monitoring delivered a statement saying, “Reports reveal a systematic and planned campaign to prevent opposition voters from going to polls.”

There was a low turnout for phase one of the elections. But as elections came closer to an end, people left their homes and attempted to vote for their party of choice. Muslim Brothers have allegedly stated that by the third round, nearly 1,000 of their members were held in custody.

Poll monitors reported in the New York Times that police were blocking voters from entering polling stations in districts that had more support for Brotherhood candidates. Blame was also placed on supporters of the National Democratic Party.

Saleeb believes that the Muslim Brotherhood was behind most of the violence. “Women were stopped before they went in to vote because if they weren’t going to vote for the Muslim Brotherhood, then they would get beaten up.”

The low turnout of voters (25 percent) during phase one of the elections may be due to the overall lack of confidence and faith Egyptians have in government.

“Most of the educated people didn’t get involved in the elections because they have no faith in government,” said Yassa. “The farmers and workers participated, but college graduates and doctors didn’t vote.”

Ahmed Osman believed that electoral corruption is also a consequence of indigence and class. “They take advantage of people in poverty,” he said. “There’s a lot of corruption and it’s about who has money and power to drive people out.”

The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928, was officially banned in Egypt in 1954. Therefore, they can only run as an independent party. Considered one of the oldest Islamist groups in the Middle East, their campaign slogan was “Islam is the Solution.” The Muslim Brotherhood’s creed is to govern Egypt under Islamic Law using religious solutions to problems. Many fear political Islam, as opposed to Arab nationalism, and viewed these elections as threatening. Some Egyptians cannot comprehend why the government continues to tolerate the Muslim Brotherhood.

“How’d they let them form an independent party? Most members of the Muslim Brotherhood are criminals, and they will spread their poison through society,” said Yassa.

Since the 1970s, the National Democratic Party has held power in Parliament. Unlike the Muslim Brotherhood’s strategy to change the political system in Egypt, the NDP, which has supported Mubarak for over three decades, wants to maintain the system that exists.

“They know the ins and outs of the government,” said Shaker.

In order for the Muslim Brotherhood, or any other party, to be able to nominate a presidential candidate in the next term, they must have at least five percent of its members in parliament. They received more votes this time around, gaining 76 seats over the 15 seats won in previous elections. The National Democratic Party will nonetheless assume control with its’ two-thirds majority.

The United States has been pressuring Mubarak to establish a democratic system in Egypt. As a result, he allowed rivals to challenge him and his party. Of the people interviewed, all believe that these elections do not exemplify democracy.

“The United States says they want to protect our democratic right. If Hosni Mubarak wants good for this country he should just be president and allow for fair competition,” said Osman. “If they want democracy they should let people compete fairly.”

Saleeb doesn’t blame Mubarak but blames the people of Egypt. “We’re used to being controlled. We can’t handle democracy,” he said.

Egyptian Copts expressed fear and anger towards the Muslim Brotherhood.

“I’m really worried about the future of Egypt. I’m worried that the Muslim Brotherhood will take advantage of Christians because now they have seats, authority, and money,” said Shaker. “All laws will be issued to their advantage against the Christians, and it’s going to be hard to live in Egypt as a Christian.”

Living in the United States is a blessing to some Egyptians. “Thank God we were brought to this country,” said Maha Sayed. “America is a strong country in comparison to Egypt because it accepts people of all opinions,” says Yassa.

“I’m grateful to be in America.” On the other hand, for some, political Islam seems like a solution for a better way of living for Muslims living in the Arab world. “It might become another Syria or Iran,” said Mitwalli. “Other countries look at Egypt like it’s a religious and violent country, but it’s not.”

The Muslim Brotherhood’s supporters have increased over the years. During Gamal Abdel Nasser’s time, when the Muslim Brotherhood was banned, Islam was not as powerful a form of expression as it is today.

“Obviously the majority of Egyptians would want it to be a Muslim run society. If you look around Egypt, hijab [dressing modestly] is more common than not hijab,” said Mona El Swedy.

Amr Khaled [first Islamic television evangelist], who had also been banned from Egypt, is believed to have made a significant impact on Egypt’s Muslims there and endeavored to popularize the Muslim Brotherhood this time around.

The outcome of the elections left even Egyptian people living in the United States with less faith in their homeland. Many fear living there, and many are more convinced that the country is full of ignorance and poverty. Many think that Egypt will never reach a state of democracy, whether under rule of the National Democratic Party or the Muslim Brotherhood. The Muslim Brotherhood received 20 percent of the votes, making some happy.

“At least they have a voice now, and they can be heard. It’s better to be heard,” said Osman.

The purpose of the ballots was to create a democracy. Both the government and its citizens must be impugned for the disruption and exploitation of these elections and the squandering of a potential democratic process.