Ikhwan al-Qunaitra Secretly Mobilize to Save Their Struggling Party Through Religious and Associative Fronts
Informed sources have revealed that leaders from the Justice and Development Party in Qunaitra have begun holding consecutive meetings with members of the Unity and Reform Movement, in an effort to revive the local organization of the party after the severe blow it suffered in the 2021 elections. This new dynamic appears to be part of early preparations for the upcoming elections, fueled by a desire to regain lost political influence.
According to the same sources, the movement, known for its ideological and organizational proximity to the Muslim Brotherhood’s media organization, has suggested relying on a network of civil associations linked to the party or aligned with its direction as a mechanism to reactivate party grassroots and expand its presence in the local space. Recently, almost covert efforts have intensified to coordinate support for these associations, enabling them to benefit from financial aid provided by the municipal council as part of initiatives supporting association projects. This reflects a clear intention to leverage past institutional influence to establish new footholds.
The party’s stakes are not limited to associations but also extend to exploiting student factions with Islamic orientations within universities to ensure an expansion of its organizational base among youth. Observers note that the organization aims to utilize solidarity demonstrations in support of the Palestinian cause to attract new sympathizers and improve its image amidst the party’s decline.
This behind-the-scenes movement illustrates the party’s efforts to reorganize internally and repair its network of influence, relying on its religious, civil, and student tools, against a backdrop of noticeable detachment from the public and shaken popular trust following a failed administrative experience that led to unprecedented social disasters.
