Security forces arrested 64 members of the Muslim Brotherhood early today in the governorates of Ismailia, Giza, Fayoum, Monufiya, and Sharqiya. Sources from the Brotherhood said they expect more arrests over the coming days due to the Shura Council elections taking place this coming April.
State Security forces carried out an arrest campaign early today that led to the arrest of seven Brotherhood members from Sharqiya, including el-Sayyid Abdel Hamid, a former member of the People’s Assembly, and Amin Mohamed Bassem el-Naggar, a professor at Al-Azhar University, said sources at state security. They also arrested 13 members from Fayoum, six from Monufiya, and eight from Giza, including Sayyid Nezily, who runs the Brotherhood’s administrative office in Giza.
Following Friday prayers at Abul Magd Mosque, security forces arrested 30 additional members who were protesting Israeli raids on Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem. Sabri Khalafallah, a member of the People’s Assembly, was arrested, but released one hour later.
The arrest of a member of the People’s Assembly represents a "strange escalation" against the Brotherhood, said Abdel Monem Abdel Maqsoud, a lawyer for the Brotherhood. "These unjustified arrests seek to restrain the activities of the group over the coming period," he said, "especially since those arrested are leaders whose activity during the election period is feared by security forces."
Security forces also arrested some Brotherhood members after the dawn prayer, seizing their books and computers in the process.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
