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| Axis of Evil |
| Arrests in Egypt linked to upcoming Iraq war |
| 2003-01-04 |
| IslamOnline The Egyptian security forces' arrest of 14 members of the Muslim Brotherhood on Thursday, January 2, was an attempt to contain reactions to the envisaged U.S.-led war on Iraq, a member of the outlawed group said. In exclusive interview to IslamOnline, Abd el-Moneim Abu el-Fotoh, a member of the Muslim Brotherhood guidance office, said security forces accused the arrestees of being active among students communities. They include Tareq Mohammad Abd el-Gawad, a grandson of the movement's former guide-general Mustafa Mashhour, who passed away in November 2002. Knowing absolutely nothing about the investigation, I'd still say that's close to 100% likely. The arrests came a day after the Brotherhood Guide-General Mohammad Ma'moun el-Hodaibi urged Arab and Muslim leaders to unify stances and close ranks with their peoples to confront the American assault. "Get on the side of the Arab Street, 'cuz Sammy's one of us..." This is not the first time Egyptian security forces have arrested Muslim Brotherhood members since el-Hodaibi assumed his post, said Abu el-Fotoh, recalling the arrest of 15 Muslim brothers before Eid-ul-Fitr. Only eight of the 15 people, who were tortured by the security forces, have been released so far, he added. Still working on the other seven... Abu el-Fotoh refused to link the fresh arrests and el-Hodaibi's statement, stressing that the guide-general had only appealed to leaders and peoples to face up their common enemy. On the statement marked by harsh language against the United States, he reiterated the Muslim Brotherhood's firm opposition to foreign military presence on Arab and Islamic territories. "There is no doubt that the U.S. is not only targeting Islamic movements but also leaders and regimes regardless of whether they are democratic or not," stressed Abu el-Fotoh. "The fact that they're not is only coincidence." |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |