The illegitimate coup government continues its heavy-handed crackdown on leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, its political wing (the FJP) and supporters of elected President Mohamed Morsi, who reject the military coup and military rule, said the Muslim Brotherhood in a statement on 9 July. A Cairo prosecutor issued orders for the arrest and detention of Dr. Mohamed Beltagy, Dr. Essam El-Erian and Dr. Safwat Hegazy, for questioning on alleged charges of incitement to murder.
Moreover, the same prosecutor issued orders to jail four more Brotherhood leaders for 15 days: Al-Shater, the Brotherhood’s Vice-Chairman; Mohamed Mahdi Akef, the group’s former Chairman; Dr. Mohamed Saad Katatni, Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) Chairman and former Speaker of Egyptian Parliament; and Dr. Mohamed Rashad Bayoumi, deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood; in addition to Sheikh Hazem Abu-Ismail.
In related developments, security forces arrested Tariq and Khaled, the sons of Dr. Gamal Heshmat – member of the Shura Council (Upper House) and member of the FJP’s National Committee – in Mahatta Square in Damanhur, after demonstrations against the heinous military coup. “The current conflict is between democracy, governance, and the military coup; not the Brotherhood and the opposition,” added the statement.