The Muslim Brotherhood and the Freedom of Religion or Belief

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Islamist movements like the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood are increasingly embracing democratic principles. Therefore, an exploration of their support of the underlying values of democracy is crucial in order to understand what democracy actually means to these actors. However, Islamists do not operate in a political vacuum. In the Egyptian context, one must consider the effects of long-term authoritarian rule. More importantly, one must consider the Egyptian regime´s political reliance on, and manipulation of, conservative Islam. This reliance render the Egyptian regime unable to completely reject critique against it regarding Islam and the protection of Islamic values. The result has been the creation of an illiberal religious discourse which functions as Brotherhood´s main, if not only, channel of influence.