An Egyptian legislative body blocked the establishment of Egypt's first Islamic-oriented political party on Saturday, the third time lawmakers refused to recognize the group.
The committee in charge of legalizing new political parties refused to allow the establishment of Hizb al-Wasat al-Gedid, the New Centralist Party, a government official said on condition of anonymity.
The Political Parties Affairs Committee gave no reason for its decision, but during previous applications the government has said the party was a front for the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Usually the committee rejects the formation of parties it feels add no new ideas to the political arena. Members of the group said that argument doesn't apply to them.
"The Committee knows that we are a very special political party because we are presenting the first party with an Islamic agenda," said member Tharwat al-Kharabawi, a former member of the Muslim Brotherhood.
"Islamic civilization is our reference," he added. "How is that not new?"
Al-Kharabawi said he was surprised by the decision because "the talk about reforms and the regime's readiness to open doors to the political parties all made us believe a real change is taking place, but that all turned out to be a big lie."
He said the group will appeal the decision.
It was the third time the committee rejected the creation of the party.
In 1996, when the group first applied for party status, the government arrested three of its founders and charged them in a military court with using Hizb al-Wasat as a cover for the banned Muslim Brotherhood. The men were released after three months.
In 1998, the committee again refused the group's request without giving a reason.
The Committee on Saturday also refused to recognize Hizb al-Karama, or Dignity Party, which espouses a pan-Arabist philosophy.