(AFP Photo)
The Foreign Ministry responded to the US State Department’s opposition to “politicised arrests” in Egypt by denying that there have been any.
“In response to what was mentioned by the US State Department spokesperson on the US’s opposition to what it described as politicised arrests, Egypt’s foreign ministry spokesman stated that Egypt has not witnessed arrests for political reasons since the 30 June Revolution,” a statement released by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday read.
On Tuesday during a press briefing, US State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said that the Egyptian government has a responsibility to protect all Egyptians and to ensure that the political process is “inclusive,” while reiterating the US stance against “politicised arrests.”
Psaki’s statements came hours after the arrest of Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Gehad El-Haddad in a Nasr City apartment, along with former Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) MP Ahmed Diab and Guidance Bureau member Mohamed Abou Zeid.
The foreign ministry said: “As part of the judicial independence, the government has no say in any decisions made by investigations’ authorities whether they are arrest orders, detention or release orders.”
It added that the government is “fully aware of its responsibility towards all its citizens and that part of providing protection for them is enforcing the law against those who terrorise…”
The foreign ministry referred to a recent statement released by the Cabinet on behalf of Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi, which dismisses that there have been “politically-motivated or arbitrary arrests.” The Cabinet said that recent arrests were carried out based on prosecution’s orders and detainees are charged with criminal offences and tried before civil courts. It added that civilians are brought to military courts if there is an assault on military personnel and installations.
Earlier this month, dozens of Muslim Brotherhood members were handed verdicts by a military court, including one life sentence. Charges against them included murder and attempted murder of civilians and security forces.
In a wide-ranging crackdown on supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi, Muslim Brotherhood figures have been facing arrests. Morsi, along with his presidential team, were arrested on 3 July. Brotherhood figures behind bars include Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, who stands trial along with his deputies, for charges of involvement in killing protesters on 30 June.
Former MPs Mohamed Al-Beltagy and Farid Ismail, and former Shura Council member Sobhi Saleh are also behind bars. In addition, another Brotherhood spokesman, Ahmed Aref was arrested last month.
