Egypt’s Morsi Slapped with Fresh 30 Days’ Detention

Egypt’s deposed president Mohamed Morsi was given a further 30 days’ detention on Friday pending investigations into charges of involvement in prison breaks during the 2011 uprising, as well as espionage.

Morsi, who has been detained by the military since his ouster in July, is accused of collaborating with Hamas to orchestrate his escape from Wadi Al-Natroun prison in 2011 during the uprising against Hosni Mubarak, as well as destroying police records during the uprising. In addition, he faces charges of espionage, and of attacking police stations with the intent to kill and abduct police officers and prisoners during the uprising.

Morsi’s chief of staff Refaa El-Tahtawi was given fresh 15 days’ detention pending investigation on the same charges of espionage. El-Tahtawi, who had been given a previous 15 day detention period, is accused of misusing his authority under Morsi to “release important information.”

Morsi, along with dozens of other members of the Muslim Brotherhood, escaped from prison during the 2011 revolution that toppled his predecessor Hosni Mubarak. The Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah groups have been accused of aiding in the plot to attack prisons, resulting in the release of inmates.

Most of the Brotherhood’s top leaders are currently detained on charges of inciting violence during recent or past clashes.

Morsi has been held incommunicado since his ouster on 3 July by the armed forces, following mass nationwide protests against his rule.

He is also accused of “insulting judicial authority.”

Throughout his one-year rule, Morsi’s administration was at odds with the judiciary. The peak of the confrontation came in November 2012, when Morsi released a constitutional declaration sacking the prosecutor-general and rendering the Islamist-led Shura Council and constituent assembly immune from judicial dissolution.

Source: Ahram Online