Egypt’s prosecutors arrest leading Muslim Brotherhood figures

Mohamed Badie, Muslim Brotherhood's
Supreme Guide

Hours after Egypt’s first elected President Mohamed Morsy was ousted by the Armed Forces after several days of massive protests against him nationwide the security forces started to arrest the leading figures of Muslim Brotherhood.

There were reports about several Islamist and Muslim Brotherhood’s TV channels and also media friendly to the Islamists taken off air, including Al-Jazeera Mubasher Masr. Several journalists have been reportedly arrested and detained, and media also reported that Egypt’s security forces have issued nearly 300 arrest warrants for the members of Muslim Brotherhood.

Late on Wednesday Egypt’s security forces have arrested and detained two prominent Islamist figures, two senior leaders of Muslim Brotherhood. Saad El-Katatny, head of Freedom and Justice Party, political wing of Muslim Brotherhood, and also Rashad Bayoumi, the deputy head of the Islamist movement, have been arrested and detained. They are being held in Cairo’s Torah prison, in the same prison with the ousted President Hosni Mubarak and his sons.

Khairat El-Shater, deputy of Muslim Brotherhood's
Supreme Guide

On Thursday, 4 July, prosecutors ordered also arrests of other prominent Muslim Brotherhood’s leaders: Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie and his deputy Khairat El-Shater.

Security forces and prosecution are continuing their efforts in arresting and detaining of other Muslim Brotherhood figures who are accused of inciting violence in the country and violating peace and security.

Members of the Muslim Brotherhood are also accused of murdering the protesters outside of the Islamists’ group’s headquarters in Moqattam, Cairo, on 30 June. The Islamist group has allegedly hired some professional snipers and armed and trained nearly 250 of its own members to fight the protesters, according to the judicial source.

Saad El-Katatny, Head of Freedom and Justice
Party

In addition to that, on Wednesday, 3 July, Egypt’s Court of Appeals released a verdict for Egypt’s Prime Minister Hesham Qandeel to reveal him from his duties and to sentence him to one year in prison for not executing the court ruling regarding the reinstatement of the employees of the Tanta Flax and Oil Company and selling the company to Saudi businessman.

Meanwhile Egypt’s Armed Forces issued a statement declaring that the army will protect all the member of Egyptian society including the Islamists who shouldn’t be attacked. All the political and social factions should be included in the national dialogue in attempt to resolve the current crisis and to fulfill the plans of the new roadmap for Egypt proposed by the Armed Forces.

We would remind here that on Wednesday, 3 July, after four days of the massive protests against Mohamed Morsy and his administration nationwide Egypt’s Armed Forces ousted Mohamed Morsy from his presidential position and declared Head of Egypt’s High Constitutional Court as an interim head of the country for the transitional period, until the early presidential election will be held. Adly Mansour, current interim head of Egypt, has sworn in today, on 4 July.

The political roadmap issued by the army includes the dismissal of the government and the forming of the new one consisting of the technocrats and representatives of all the factions of Egyptian society and political forces. The recently adopted Constitution is suspended.