CAIRO: Muslim Brotherhood lawyer Abdel Moneim Abdel Maqsoud, filed an official request to the Prosecutor General, the Head of the Cairo Appeals Court and the Minister of Interior demanding the “immediate release” of 191 detained members of the banned group. “The application of the emergency law is restricted to involvement in terrorism and drug dealing, which none of these detainees was arrested for, therefore they should be immediately released,” he explained. The majority of the detainees were arrested during the crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood earlier this year after taking part in pro-Palestine demonstrations around the country. Abdel Maqsoud also said that if procedures didn't start on releasing the detainees before June 1 the group will initiate legal action. In a related note, the Muslim Brotherhood on Monday said that the government approved 12 of 14 candidates who applied to run in the upcoming Shoura Council (Upper House of Parliament) elections in early June. Members have previously reported facing impediments when the Supreme Electoral Commission overseeing the elections began the vetting process for the applications of potential candidates. At the time, group member and MP Sabry Khalafallah said that the ruling National Democratic Party was planning a “violent” strategy in the upcoming elections and that the party wanted to continue its monopoly on power despite the weakness of its candidates. As the Muslim Brotherhood is a banned group, its members run in elections as independents. The Muslim Brotherhood's Supreme Guide, Mohamed Badea', also released a statement Monday in which he explained their slogan “Islam is the Solution” which they have adopted in their elections campaigns. "‘Islam is the Solution' does not mean that Brotherhood members are autocrats who refuse to accept advice and launching attacks against those who disagree with them,” said Badea'. Badea' also discussed how a core value in Islamic law calls for choosing a righteous leader to serve. “It is neither a political nor sovereign act, but an act of worship to select righteous leaders,” he said. “Choosing corrupt leaders who give priority to personal interests over national interests ensures the survival of corruption and corrupters,” giving as examples businessmen with strong political connections who fled the country after extorting billions of pounds and the widespread corruption within the Egyptian government. Badea' ended his statement by saying, "Islamic law can be applied to any global issue regardless of religion, color or nationality and the only solution is to adhere to Islamic law, hence the Muslim Brotherhood's motto ‘Islam is the Solution'."
