ABSTRACT
The essential idea advanced is that the Kaftariyya and the Qubaysiyyat are organizationally secular, irrespective of the religious discourse articulated by their leaders and adhered to by their followers. This chapter outlines an alternative conceptual framework to identify the key organizational features that govern how a movement evolves, and interacts with its external environment. Islamist movements that are embodied in organizations that are primarily expressive have historically proven to be easily reconciled with the idea of a civil society, respectful of state authority. The law placed the associations under the administrative authority of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, and gave the minister the right to terminate any association by decree with no recourse to any appeal process. Leadership of an organization is grounded in either the charismatic nature of a specific leader or in the organizational authority embedded in a specific administrative position.
