Detention of Ikhwanweb’s Khaled Hamza, 12 Others, Prolonged 15 days

Detention of Ikhwanweb’s Khaled Hamza, 12 Others, Prolonged 15 days

The New Cairo-based state security prosecution ordered on Monday, March, 3rd, 2008, the detention of Khaled Hamza and 12 other Muslim Brotherhood (MB) members prolonged 15 days pending investigations. They have been arrested ahead of the Municipal elections scheduled to be held next April, 8th, 2008.



 
The Egyptian authorities carry out such spates of arrests to prevent the moderate group from achieving wins in the coming electiosn, especially after the group declared in late February that it will take part in the elections.



 
Khaled Hamza, the chief editor of the MB”s English website Ikhwanweb.com, faces along with the other detainees several charges including disturbing public security, working for reviving and outlawed group (the Muslim Brotherhood), and seeking to topple the regime .



 
Through these detentions and other harassments, the Egyptian regime wants to curb any possible Muslim Brotherhood participation in the municipal elections to prevent it from gaining more election wins. The Egyptian regime”s security grip has even got tougher against the Muslim Brotherhood after its candidates, running as independents, garnered 88 seats, a fifth of the total seats of the People”s Assembly.