Activists with ties to the Muslim Brotherhood is holding a fundraiser for a Democratic candidate for the House of Representatives.
Akram Elzend and Sameh Elhennawy are holding a fundraiser for Democratic Representative Gerry Connolly of Virginia later this month. The invitations to the event promise “a direct conversation” with the Representative along with a chance for them to express their appreciation.
The fundraiser is catching the eye of watchdog groups because an organization cofounded by Elzend held a pro-Mohammed Morsi rally in New York that featured anti-Semitic displays. Egyptian Americans for Democracy and Human Rights held a rally in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy where they said the Saudis were “dirtier than Jews” and that they were trying to “sell Egypt to the Jews.”
The leader of the group is called a “senior Muslim Brotherhood leader” in Arabic press accounts.
The two men heading the fundraiser are also listed as U.S. based cells of the group and identified on a list of Morsi supporters who issued an Arabic statement calling for Morsi to “cleanse the media and the police.”
The trial of Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Morsi began in Egypt with court disruptions, tension and a defiant defendant.
Morsi and 14 senior members of the outlawed Islamist Muslim Brotherhood were brought into the court to be formally charged with incitement of violence and murder. All defendants are facing the death penalty.
Morsi defied the judge by wearing a blue suit into court instead of the mandated prison clothes. He also challenged the court’s authority saying that he was the legitimate president of the country and those who removed him should be the ones on trial.
Presiding judge Ahmed Sabry Youssef adjourned the hearing because the defendants refused to stop chanting. He gave the defense lawyers until January 8th to review documents from the case.
The hearing was the first public appearance of Morsi since his removal from power on July 3rd.
Egyptian state media is reporting that Muslim Brotherhood leader and former President Mohammed Morsi will be going to trial on November 4th.
Morsi will be standing trial with 14 other senior leaders of the Brotherhood according to the reports. Morsi has been held at a secret location by government troops since being removed from power on July 3rd.
Morsi will be facing charges related to the deaths of at least seven people during clashes between opposition protesters and Muslim Brotherhood supporters.
Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been launching protests nationwide. Over 50 supporters were killed in clashes with government troops over the weekend.
Mohammed al-Beltagi, the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood’s “Freedom and Justice Party”, has been arrested by state officials in Egypt and charged with inciting violence.
Former labor minister Khaled al-Azhari was also arrested on Thursday. Continue reading →
The UN Security Council is meeting in a closed session over the violence in Egypt.
Argentina’s UN ambassador told Reuters after the meeting that all the parties were in agreement that the violence needs to immediately end. Continue reading →
Egypt’s interim prime minister has stated in a televised address to his nation that today’s action against supporters of Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood was necessary because authorities had to restore security.
Hazem Beblawi said the decision to move into the camps and disperse the protesters was not easy. Continue reading →
A protest march organized by pro-Mohammed Morsi supporters was broken up by police Tuesday morning.
The Morsi supporters claimed they were marching to protest the appointments of army officers as local governors. The police initially hit the marchers with tear gas but then backed off as local residents began to attack the pro-Morsi protesters with bottles and rocks. Continue reading →
Multiple news outlets are reporting that Egyptian police are preparing to move on the protest camps demanding the return of Mohammed Morsi to the Egyptian presidency.
A senior security source told Reuters “state security troops will be deployed around the sit-ins.” The Associated Press said security forces would be besieging the camps within 24 hours. Continue reading →
Two U.S. senators have met with Egypt’s military backed government and urged them to release all political prisoners including former President Mohammed Morsi.
Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham called the removal of Morsi a “coup”, which the Obama administration has been refusing to do, and said that “inclusive democracy [is] the only viable path to stability.” Continue reading →
Protesters connected to the Muslim Brotherhood upset about the ouster of Mohammed Morsi attacked security forces overnight resulting in the deaths of at least 7.
Police also used tear gas to disperse the protesters who had blocked major roads throughout Cairo. The protesters responded by throwing rocks at the police. Continue reading →