The Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that a case demanding the dissolution of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, is not within its jurisdiction and referred the case to the Supreme Administrative Court.
The lawsuit demands a swift decision to dissolve the party, halt its political activities and impose guardianship of its headquarters. The party violates an article in the supplement to the Constitutional Declaration that prohibits the establishment of political parties on a religious basis, the claimants said.
The FJP won nearly a 45 percent majority in elections for the People's Assembly, which was dissolved in June following a decision by the Supreme Constitutional Court. Before quitting his post so that he could run in the presidential elections, President Mohamed Morsy was the head of the FJP.
According to the lawsuit, the party violated the fourth article in the Constitutional Declaration issued in March 2011 and the third paragraph of the fourth article of the law on political parties, which both ban establishing parties based on religion.
The lawsuit demands that the head of the FJP submit annual reports about the party’s activities and financial affairs to legal authorities. The suit adds that the FJP used religious slogans in campaigning, mixing religion and politics.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
