Who is Mohamed Morsi and Why Does Egypt Hate Him So Much?

The havoc, unrest, and dysfunction caused by the Muslim Brotherhood's rise to power, after the fall of former President Mubarak, culminated with the ousting of President Mohamed Morsi by the military, after protesters seized the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood — looting and destroying the building.

The massive protests sparked because of outrage over what Morsi's opponents called the "Brotherhoodization" (the application of Islamic ideology in government policy). Protesters also decried the Morsi government opposition to foreign involvement and collaboration — counterproductive strategy for a nation dependent on foreign investment and tourism to employ over of its workforce.

The Muslim Brotherhood's growing clout was also grounds of concern for many Egyptians —especially Coptic Christians and secularists who were victimized by the

Islamic fervor following the Brotherhood's rise to power by the increased violence against women and soaring crime rates (which also chased away foreign investment and enterprise). .

In addition, the Morsi administration repeatedly broke promises made to Egyptians —including appointing a female vice president, and a Coptic Christian deputy. So much so that former prominent member, Ibrahim al-Hudaibi, this is the first time in the history of the Brotherhood that it is the people and not the regime that are acting against the movement."

But anti-Morsi protesters face the threat of violent retaliation by the Muslim Brotherhood and its followers. That's why the United States ordered all nonessential U.S. diplomats and the families of U.S. Embassy personnel to return home (other nations, such as Canada, are following suite).

The AP, reported, "Morsi has insisted his legitimacy as an elected president must not be violated or Egypt could be thrown in to violence. Some of his Islamist backers, tens of thousands of whom took to the streets in recent days, have vowed to fight to the end." It is not unheard of for jilted religious organizations to resort to violence — many analysts fear that the ousting of Morsi could lead to increased terrorism at home and abroad.

Essam al-Haddad—a senior Morsi advisor warned, "the message will resonate throughout the Muslim world loud and clear: 'Democracy is not for Muslims,'" He cites the ousting of Morsi as the most powerful example of a trend of violent popular rebellions against Islamist governments erected in the power vacuums created in the Arab Spring. However, new reports suggest that the army is bringing in the opinions of many groups including ultra-conservative Muslims in order to reach an agreeable consensus on how to move forward.

Contrary to what Essam al-Haddad says, there is no reason why largely Muslim nations cannot form successful democracies. The Muslim Brotherhood is responsible to a great degree for the tribulations of the young democracy, by creating a culture of oppression and fear — in addition to drafting a self-serving constitution that by now has rightfully been suspended.