Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawy said in remarks to Dream Channel on Monday evening that he considers the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group, but the Cabinet cannot issue a decision labeling it as thus.
“The Muslim Brotherhood used terrorism over its history to reach political goals,” said Belblawy.
Beblawy pointed out the Cabinet cannot label the group as a terrorist organization as the judiciary has already issued a ruling prohibiting the Muslim Brotherhood. In effect the Muslim Brotherhood group now does not legally exist, he explained.
“The entity of the Muslim Brotherhood is dissolved, how am I going to label it as a terrorist organization if it does not exist in accordance with the law?” Beblawy asked.
“Egypt is a state ruled by law…the executive authority cannot interfere with the [judicial authority],” Beblawy said.
Beblawy pointed out that defendants accused with terrorist acts should stand trial and be sentenced by the court in accordance with the penal code criminalizing terrorism.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
