Over the past few days, the Ministry of Interior has released 700 members of the Muslim Brotherhood who had been arrested in 20 governorates for using religious slogans in their parliamentary election campaigns.
Their release began 48 hours after the Brotherhood announced a pullout from the runoff election slated for tomorrow.
Abdel Monem Abdel Maqsoud, a lawyer for the Brotherhood, said more than 1000 Brotherhood members and campaigners were apprehended during the election, of whom 700 have been discharged.
Abdel Maqsoud added that the defense team for the Brotherhood will appeal the prison sentences handed down to its detained members, particularly 18 of its leaders who received prison sentences of 2 to 3 years for using the group’s traditional motto of “Islam is the Solution”.
“The Misdemeanor Appeals Court is expected to reverse these rulings after other courts exonerated a considerable number of the group’s members,” he said, adding that 80 members remain who will be tried over the same charge.
The Brotherhood announced last week that approximately 12,000 of its members were held during the election period.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
