A misdemeanour appeals court for urgent matters turned down Saturday a legal challenge by members of the Muslim Brotherhood against a verdict ordering the seizure of the group's funds by the interim government. The court upheld the verdict, declaring that the Brotherhood's funds, assets and NGO would remain seized. The appeal was filed against both Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi and Minister of Social Solidarity Ahmed El-Borai. The initial verdict, issued 23 September, banned the Muslim Brotherhood and its NGO, leaving the Islamist group with no legal status. The Brotherhood existed outside Egyptian law for decades and was only officially registered as an NGO in March 2013. The group has criticised the verdict, saying it was issued by "an incompetent court," and should have been dealt with by the administrative court. Egyptian authorities launched a crackdown against the Brotherhood following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi — who hails from the group — 3 July. The group's supreme guide, Mohamed Badie, deputy supreme guide, Khairat El-Shater, and senior member Mohamed El-Beltagy are among hundreds of Brotherhood members and leaders who have been detained and face charges including incitement of violence against opponents. Egyptian prosecutors froze the assets of several senior Brotherhood leaders and other prominent Islamists in July as part of the crackdown. Source : Ahram Online
