Since the June 30 revolution in Egypt, the Muslim Brotherhood has sought to challenge the ruling interim authorities in every way possible. The road map on governance had been the organization's most difficult challenge and most important battle. In light of the success of the Jan. 14-15 constitutional referendum, which drew the participation of a broad spectrum of the Egyptian people, the Brotherhood has reached an impasse.

Even before that vote, however, the organization had sought to strengthen its position by pressuring the Egyptian regime from abroad, announcing on Jan. 6 that an international legal team in London representing it had filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold the current Egyptian leadership accountable for alleged crimes against humanity committed since June 30.  The lawyers said that they had given evidence to the ICC on Dec. 20, 2013, that proved the Egyptian army had committed crimes against supporters of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

Announcement of the postponement of Morsi's trial until Feb. 1, supposedly because of bad weather that prevents him from flying from Alexandria to Cairo, coincided with a statement by the Brotherhood questioning the reasons behind the court's failure to convene. The organization, once led by Morsi, claimed that the trial had been postponed due to fears of it "igniting a new popular revolution." The statement, released on Jan. 8 and addressed to the international community, implored, "We ask all human rights organizations in the world to intervene, as well as the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who spoke out in favor of some of the political activists who were arrested."

While the Brotherhood has made steadfast attempts since the fall of Morsi's regime on July 3 to internationalize the Egyptian crisis, this last effort was an option of last resort for pressuring the government. This is especially evident in light of the results of the constitutional referendum, in which 98.1% of voters approved the new constitution. Thus, the Brotherhood could no longer rely on the ballot box to regain strength.