Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood tells West what it wants to hear, Reuters parrots

Reuters has been sanitizing the history, image and doctrine of the Muslim Brotherhood since at least February when the group became a contender for power in Egypt following the downfall of Hosni Mubarak.  We noted that disturbing trend here, here, here, and here.

In its latest installment of Brotherhood-friendly propaganda, Reuters correspondent Yasmine Saleh admits that the Islamist group has become the dominant political player in Egypt but she uncritically parrots Brotherhood assurances that the group wants a "diverse" parliament after elections in September:

The Brotherhood, which has emerged as a powerful force after years of repression under ousted President Hosni Mubarak, has said it does not want a parliamentary majority, although rivals see it as well placed for a dominant position.

We cannot recall the last time a political party in any country did not wish to be the majority in the legislative body, but there you have it.

Even more troubling than Saleh's credulity with respect to the Brotherhood's modest electoral goals is this contradiction in terms.  Saleh writes:

The Muslim Brotherhood wants a diverse parliament after elections in September and is not seeking to impose Islamic law on Egypt, the head of the group's newly formed political party said in an interview.

Yet just eight paragraphs down, Saleh quotes the same Mohamed Mursi, head of the Brotherhood's Justice and Freedom Party:

But he said Islamic law could have a place in a civil state in Egypt, where about 10 percent of the 80 million population are Christians. "Islamic sharia guarantees the rights of all people, Muslims and non-Muslims," he said.

So Sharia law could have a "place" in Egypt but the Brotherhood is not seeking to "impose" it.  We see.  The most powerful political force in the country, a group committed by Charter to the strict implementation of Sharia law and one which very likely will hold a plurality if not a majority of seats in the legislative body, is not seeking to use that authority to legislate for Sharia.

Well after all, denial is a river in Egypt.