Egypt says 'no decision' taken as yet on dissolving Muslim Brotherhood's NGO status

Legality of Brotherhood still being considered

The Egyptian Government has denied state media reports that it has decided to dissolve the Muslim Brotherhood.

 

A prime ministerial aide, Sherif Shawki, is reported to have revoked the solidarity ministry's statement on dissolving Brotherhood, saying that he was still considering their legality and had not made any decision, the BBC reports.

 

Media reports had earlier quoted a social solidarity ministry spokesman as saying Egypt would annul the Islamist group's Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) status within days.

 

The 85-year-old Islamist movement was banned by Egypt's military rulers in 1954.

 

However, it registered itself as an NGO in March in response to a court case by opponents against its legal status.

 

The Brotherhood also has a legally registered political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), which was set up in June 2011 after the group won parliamentary and presidential elections following Hosni Mubarak removal.

 

Social Solidarity Minister Ahmed al-Borai and an administrative court in Cairo were to review the Brotherhood's NGO status.

 

A judicial panel later on Monday argued that the NGO registration was illegal because the Brotherhood-led government had effectively issued a licence to itself.

 

However, when no representatives for the group turned up in the court, Borai had to take necessary legal action and dissolve it within days, the report added.

 

According to the report, the decision stemmed from accusation that the Brotherhood had used its headquarters in Cairo to open fire on opponents and to store weapons and explosives when millions of people took to the streets demanding the resignation of Morsi.

 

The interim military-led government had launched a crackdown on pro-Morsi supporters killing several of members and detained dozens of senior Brotherhood leaders, including Mohammed Badie, over allegations of inciting violence and murder.