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Egypt Labels Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group

Egypt Labels Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group

From Al-Monitor

Less than two days after a suicide bombing on Dec. 23 targeted the Dakahlia police department in the Nile Delta city of Mansoura, killing 17 and injuring more than 100, Egypt’s interim cabinet declared the Muslim Brotherhood, the mother organization of ousted President Mohammed Morsi, a terrorist organization.

“Egypt’s cabinet has decided to declare the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization subject to Article 86 of the penal law,” Hossam Eisa, Egypt’s deputy prime minister and minister of higher education, announced at a news conference held on Dec. 25.

Eissa said, “Punishments of terrorism acts stated by the law would be applied to anyone participating in the activities of the Muslim Brotherhood group or organization, anyone promoting it verbally or by writing, and everyone financing it.”

“Punishments would be applied to anyone who joins the Muslim Brotherhood group or organization, or continues to be a member of both since the declaration,” Eissa said. “All Arab member states of the 1998 counterterrorism treaty would be informed of this decision,” he added.

Article 86 of Egypt’s penal law, which was presented as the legal basis for the government’s declaration on Dec. 25, indicates that being a member of a terrorist organization is punishable with a jail sentence of a maximum of five years; punishments for financing and occupying leadership positions in any terrorist organization could be as severe as life imprisonment or the death penalty. 

Government authorities started applying the decision hours after it was declared by confiscating the Muslim Brotherhood’s official Freedom and Justice newspaper. Unnamed officials of the newspaper told the Egyptian online daily Al-Mogaz, “The state-owned Al-Ahram Publishing House received orders to stop printing the paper, while government personnel continued to confiscate what was already printed.”

Written by Mohannad SabryRead more at Al-Monitor