VOA慢速英語(yǔ):Muslim Brotherhood Ready for More Active Role in Jordan

By VOA

07 December, 2012

From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.

The Muslim Brotherhood is one of the largest Islamic groups in the Arab world. For years, the Brotherhood has been banned in a number of Middle Eastern countries. Yet the group has long had an influential voice in the kingdom of Jordan. It also is considered the most organized political force in the nation.

Jordanians' demands for change have been growing stronger, partly because of economic problems. Their demands have, at times, led to conflict with the nation's monarch, King Abdullah.

The Muslim Brotherhood seems ready for a more active role in Jordanian politics. But the group says it wants no part in changing the government. Nimer al-Assaf is a top official in the Brotherhood's political organization.

"We are a peaceful movement and what we are asking for are reforms under the auspices of the monarchy."

The Muslim Brotherhood has been active in Jordan since the 1940s. Since then, the group has worked with the government as it slowly built a following. But changes are taking place, partly because of the Arab Spring and the civil war in neighboring Syria.

Oraib al-Rantawi is with the Al Quds Center for Political Studies in Amman. He believes the group has been watching what is happening in Syria.

"They spent more than one year and a half waiting for what will happen in Syria because they feel if Muslim Brothers there reach power, this will empower them by default."

The Brotherhood says it is watching the Syrian conflict, but not taking an active part in it. Nimer al-Assaf says the group's leaders do not send warriors to fight, although he argues it is their right.

It is not clear what the long-term goals of the Brotherhood are in Jordan. The group has refused discussions with the United States and Israel. Yet, the Jordanian government honors a peace treaty with Israel. Mr. Assaf admits this would change should the Brotherhood become a leading political player.

"Things become different. You have to deal with the world, whether you like them or not."

He says any changes might come through a special nationwide vote.

Opponents of the Brotherhood see the rise of Islamists in Jordan and across the Middle East as a hijacking of the hopes and goals of the Arab Spring. Mister al-Rantawi believes that wealthy conservatives in Saudi Arabia and Qatar are to blame. But the group dismisses such criticism, linking its rise to the expression of popular will.

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood came to power following the ouster of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. The group's presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsi, took office earlier this year.

This week, Egypt revisited protests similar to those almost two years ago. Tanks were deployed to the presidential palace in Cairo following deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Morsi.

Opposition protesters want the president to cancel an order expanding his powers. They also oppose a proposed constitution they say was the work of Islamists, without help from those who disagree with Mr. Morsi. A nationwide vote on the constitution is set for December 15th.

穆斯林兄弟會(huì)準(zhǔn)備好在約旦發(fā)揮更積極作用

From VOA Learning English, this is IN THE NEWS in Special English.

這里是美國(guó)之音慢速英語(yǔ)時(shí)事新聞報(bào)道。

The Muslim Brotherhood is one of the largest Islamic groups in the Arab world. For years, the Brotherhood has been banned in a number of Middle Eastern countries. Yet the group has long had an influential voice in the kingdom of Jordan. It also is considered the most organized political force in the nation.

穆斯林兄弟會(huì)是阿拉伯世界最大的伊斯蘭組織之一。穆斯林兄弟會(huì)在許多中東國(guó)家多年來(lái)一直被禁止。然而該組織在約旦王國(guó)長(zhǎng)期擁有影響力，它還被認(rèn)為是該國(guó)最有組織的政治力量。

Jordanians' demands for change have been growing stronger, partly because of economic problems. Their demands have, at times, led to conflict with the nation's monarch, King Abdullah.

約旦人對(duì)改革的需求日益增強(qiáng)，部分是因?yàn)榻?jīng)濟(jì)問(wèn)題。他們的要求時(shí)常會(huì)導(dǎo)致與該國(guó)君主阿卜杜拉國(guó)王的沖突。

The Muslim Brotherhood seems ready for a more active role in Jordanian politics. But the group says it wants no part in changing the government. Nimer al-Assaf is a top official in the Brotherhood's political organization.

穆斯林兄弟會(huì)似乎做好了在約旦政治中發(fā)揮更積極作用的準(zhǔn)備。但該組織表示他們不想?yún)⑴c改變約旦政府。Nimer al-Assaf是穆斯林兄弟會(huì)政治組織中的高級(jí)官員。

"We are a peaceful movement and what we are asking for are reforms under the auspices of the monarchy."

他說(shuō)，“我們是愛好和平的運(yùn)動(dòng)，我們的訴求是在君主制主導(dǎo)下進(jìn)行改革。”

The Muslim Brotherhood has been active in Jordan since the 1940s. Since then, the group has worked with the government as it slowly built a following. But changes are taking place, partly because of the Arab Spring and the civil war in neighboring Syria.

自1940年以來(lái)穆斯林兄弟會(huì)一直活躍在約旦。自那時(shí)起，該組織已經(jīng)同約旦政府合作，并逐漸積累了一批擁躉。但改革已經(jīng)發(fā)生，部分是由于阿拉伯之春和鄰國(guó)敘利亞內(nèi)戰(zhàn)。

Oraib al-Rantawi is with the Al Quds Center for Political Studies in Amman. He believes the group has been watching what is happening in Syria.

Oraib al-Rantawi就職于安曼的圣城政治研究中心。他認(rèn)為該組織一直在關(guān)注敘利亞動(dòng)態(tài)。

"They spent more than one year and a half waiting for what will happen in Syria because they feel if Muslim Brothers there reach power, this will empower them by default."

“他們花了一年半以上時(shí)間等待敘利亞的事態(tài)進(jìn)展，因?yàn)樗麄冇X(jué)得，如果那里的穆斯林兄弟會(huì)掌權(quán)，默認(rèn)情況下會(huì)增強(qiáng)他們的力量。”

The Brotherhood says it is watching the Syrian conflict, but not taking an active part in it. Nimer al-Assaf says the group's leaders do not send warriors to fight, although he argues it is their right.

穆斯林兄弟會(huì)表示，他們關(guān)注敘利亞沖突，但并未積極參與。Nimer al-Assaf表示，該組織領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人沒(méi)有派戰(zhàn)士去打仗，但他認(rèn)為這是他們的權(quán)利。

It is not clear what the long-term goals of the Brotherhood are in Jordan. The group has refused discussions with the United States and Israel. Yet, the Jordanian government honors a peace treaty with Israel. Mr. Assaf admits this would change should the Brotherhood become a leading political player.

目前還不清楚穆斯林兄弟會(huì)在約旦的長(zhǎng)期目標(biāo)。該組織已經(jīng)拒絕與美國(guó)和以色列談判。然而，約旦政府承認(rèn)同以色列的和平條約。Assaf先生承認(rèn)，這將決定穆斯林兄弟會(huì)能否成為一個(gè)主要的政治角色。

"Things become different. You have to deal with the world, whether you like them or not."

“情況已經(jīng)改變。不管你喜歡與否，你都必須同世界打交道。”

He says any changes might come through a special nationwide vote.

他說(shuō)，任何改革可能都會(huì)通過(guò)一次特殊的全民公決。

Opponents of the Brotherhood see the rise of Islamists in Jordan and across the Middle East as a hijacking of the hopes and goals of the Arab Spring. Mister al-Rantawi believes that wealthy conservatives in Saudi Arabia and Qatar are to blame. But the group dismisses such criticism, linking its rise to the expression of popular will.

穆斯林兄弟會(huì)的反對(duì)者將約旦和中東各地伊斯蘭分子的抬頭視為劫持阿拉伯之春的愿望和目標(biāo)。al-Rantawi先生認(rèn)為，沙特阿拉伯和卡塔爾富有的保守派應(yīng)該對(duì)此負(fù)責(zé)。但該組織駁斥了這類批評(píng)，將其興起與民意表達(dá)聯(lián)系起來(lái)。

In Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood came to power following the ouster of longtime leader Hosni Mubarak. The group's presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsi, took office earlier this year.

在埃及，穆斯林兄弟會(huì)在長(zhǎng)期領(lǐng)導(dǎo)人胡斯尼·穆巴拉克下臺(tái)后走上前臺(tái)。該組織的總統(tǒng)候選人穆罕默德·穆爾西(Mohamed Morsi)今年年初上任。

This week, Egypt revisited protests similar to those almost two years ago. Tanks were deployed to the presidential palace in Cairo following deadly clashes between supporters and opponents of Mr. Morsi.

本周，埃及再現(xiàn)和近乎兩年前類似的抗議活動(dòng)。在穆爾西先生的支持者和反對(duì)者之間爆發(fā)嚴(yán)重沖突后，坦克部署到了開羅的總統(tǒng)府。

Opposition protesters want the president to cancel an order expanding his powers. They also oppose a proposed constitution they say was the work of Islamists, without help from those who disagree with Mr. Morsi. A nationwide vote on the constitution is set for December 15th.

反對(duì)派示威者希望穆爾西總統(tǒng)取消擴(kuò)大自己權(quán)力的命令。他們還反對(duì)擬議中的憲法，他們認(rèn)為那是伊斯蘭分子的作品，而沒(méi)有反對(duì)穆爾西人士的參與。埃及原定于12月15日就憲法舉行全民公投。