Seven Muslim Brothers members released in Egypt

Judicial sources in Cairo said that the Egyptian authorities released seven members of the banned Ikhwan al-muslimin (Muslim brothers) groups, including a former parliamentarian jailed four months ago.

The sources said that the state security court ordered the release of the former parliamentarian, Jamal Hishmat, and the director of human rights center in Alexandria, Ali Abdul Fattah Ali Abdullah, and other five members of the group detained in September 2003.

The seven men were arrested in Hishmat's house in Damanhour, north Egypt, and put into custody for an extended period.

The banned Muslim brothers group is active in trade unions, universities, and mosques, where several social services are provided through these commissions.

Muslim brothers are the largest opposition bloc in the Egyptian parliament. They are represented by 16 out of 454 parliamentarians member in the People's Assembly ( Parliament ). The representatives of the group were elected as independents because the movement does not enjoy a legal status.