Egypt released five Muslim Brothers leaders, extends imprisonment for four
Egypt, Politics, 9/1/2005

News reports in Cairo said that the Egyptian authorities released five leading figures of the Muslim Brothers who were sentenced to five year imprisonment each, within the course of what was called the "organization of professors" in the banned group.

The news explained that a military court had convicted 22 persons on February 7th, 2002 in the case pertinent to "university professors" who were accused to being illegitimate members in al-Qaida organization.

Among the released are the four from the leading commission in the group: Mahmoud sayed Ghazlan, Majid Hammad al-zamer, Osama Ahmad Abu Shadi and Taher Abdul Menem.

The release operation came after the convicted men spent three quarters of the sentence period. Observers indicate that the release may constitute a positive intention sign from the government to win the support of the Muslim Brothers, one of the largest groups in the country, at the doors of presidential elections to be held on September 7th in Egypt.

This step came after the Egyptian authorities released the secretary general of the Irshad office for the Muslim Brothers group, Mahmoud Izzat, three months after his detention.

This, however, raised speculation on a deal between the government and the Muslim Brothers to release cadres of the groups detained since months. This was denied by the general guide of the Muslim brothers in Egypt, Muhammad Mahdi Akef. The leading figure in the ruling national party Majdi al-Daqaq also denied any link with the Muslim Brothers to that effect.

Meantime, Egyptian security sources said on Tuesday that the state security court extended the imprisonment of Issam al-Aryan, the spokesman for the general guide of the group, Muhammad Mahdi Akef, and other three leading figures for an additional 15 days, adding they will continue to be in prison until after they presidential elections.

Also this step contradicts with the speculations on a deal between the government and the Muslim Brothers to release their detainees in which the leading figure in the group Muhammad Habib said that 48 of them are still in the Egyptian courts.

Previous Stories:
  Egypt's Muslim Brothers to vote in elections, not for Mubarak   (8/22/2005)
  Ayman Nour criticizes Mubarak's regime, wants seperation of powers   (8/19/2005)
  Programs of presidential candidates in Egypt   (8/17/2005)

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