The Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday said Egyptian authorities decided to release Deputy General Guide Khairat al-Shater, 60, who was serving a 7-year prison sentence on convictions of money laundering and joining an illegal group. An Egyptian military court sentenced him in April 2008. The group considered his release an attempt by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, which has ruled the country since the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak on 11 February, to improve relations with the group. The group was officially banned for more than 57 years prior to the start of Egypt's popular revolution on 25 January. Brotherhood lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud said the authorities also decided to release Hassan Malek, a Brotherhood businessman who was also serving a sentence of seven years. Al-Shater and 139 other leaders of the group were arrested in December 2006 when Brotherhood students staged demonstrations at al-Azhar University. They wore black clothes and masks similar to those worn by Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah militants. The council had also included a member of the group in the committee tasked withamending Egypt's Constitution. The council submitted its recommendations last week. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
