Cairo: A senior Egyptian Justice Ministry official says the assets of more than 500 leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, from which the country’s ousted president hails, have been ordered confiscated.
Abdul Azzem Al Ashri said on Tuesday that a ministerial inventory committee ordered the “movable and immovable properties” of 572 Muslim Brotherhood leaders seized.
The order is part of a wider state crackdown on the Brotherhood, first banned by a court order and then dubbed by the military-backed government as “terrorist” organisation by linking it to a wave of terrorist attacks targeting security forces without publicly presenting any evidence.
The group denies being involved in the attacks and continues to hold near-daily protests demanding the reinstatement of ousted President Mohammad Mursi, toppled in a July 3 military coup after millions rallied against him.
Meanwhile, Egyptian security forces arrested the son of a Muslim Brotherhood leader on charges of inciting violence, the Interior Ministry said.
Anas Al Beltaji was arrested on Monday with two others in an apartment in Nasr City, the same district where security forces in August broke up protests calling for the reinstatement of Mursi.
They were found in possession of a shotgun and ammunition, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
Security forces launched a crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood in August, arresting many of their leaders including Mursi and putting them on trial for inciting terrorism and violence. Hundreds have been killed.
Also on Tuesday a Cairo court sentenced 139 Brotherhood members to two years in jail and a fine of 5,000 Egyptian pounds (Dh2,650) each for engaging in violent actions, protesting and rioting.
Last month Egypt issued a protest law making it illegal to hold demonstrations without the approval of the police.
Clashes between protesters and security forces also renewed on Tuesday at Al Azhar University, a main stage of violent protests since the start of its fall semester in September.
Egypt is pushing through with a roadmap to political transition that could see new parliamentary and presidential elections next year. A referendum on a new constitution is due to take place in mid-January.
Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmad Al Borei said in remarks carried by state media on Tuesday that the “door is open” for members of the Muslim Brotherhood who have not been involved in violence to run for the presidential and parliamentary elections as individual candidates.
