CAIRO – 29 April 2018: Parliament member Mohamed al-Komi criticized Saturday an initiative announced by Kamal Al-Helbawi, former spokesperson of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood (MB) and member of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), to make reconciliation with the outlawed brotherhood.

Helbawi made a TV appearance on the Turkish-based MB-affiliated television channel Mekameleen on Friday as he called for the initiative.

Komi told Egypt Today that any initiative that would suggest reconciliation with the brotherhood would be considered a betrayal to Egypt and its people.

He added that the outlawed group committed crimes against Egyptians and Egypt’s institutions and authorities.

The initiative, and Helbawy’s appearance on the brotherhood-affiliate channel, stirred anger among the Egyptian society. Some politicians demanded an immediate trial for him.

Helbawy’s initiative is widely considered an exposure to his true intentions, as calling for reconciliation with the brotherhood contradicts four years of criticism against it.

Helbawi contacted the channel via Skype from London and announced his initiative, which will commence by forming a Council of Elders of Arab and Egyptian experts and renowned figures.

For his part, MP Abdullah Lashin said Helbawy’s initiative is rather suspicious and illegal; he clarified that reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood would violate the law, which named the brotherhood a terrorist organization.

Lashin also called for immediate interrogation for Helbawy, not to mention a trial for calling for an illegal action.

Al-Helbawi was raised among a Muslim Brotherhood community. He is the founder of the Muslim Council in Britain, secretary-general of the Islamic Unity Forum in Europe and was the advisor to the Egyptian Salvation Front, which got dissolved after the Jan. 25 Revolution.

The Muslim Council in Britain is a U.K. umbrella organization comprised largely of Muslim Brotherhood organizations.

In an interview with Asharq Al-Awsat on Jul. 26, 2013 he said, “The army is the only institution capable of maintaining law and order in Egypt.”

Helbawi is the former official spokesperson of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West; he resined from the organization to support dissent member of the brotherhood Abdel Moneim Abol Fotouh who got sacked when he announced his candidacy.

Abol Fotouh was the favored Egyptian presidential candidate of Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

Additional reporting by Mahmoud Al-Emari and Mohamed Abu Awad.