(Photo by Ahmed Al-Malky)
By Rawan Ezzat
Chancellor Mohammed Hetta ordered the arrest of five prominent Islamist figures on charges of inciting violence during Monday’s clashes in the Ramses area, reported state agency MENA on Saturday.
The arrest warrants were issued after a National Security Service investigation showed that the five accused had urged seven registered criminals to lead pro-Morsi protesters to clash with the police, to block roads and to “terrorise” innocent people, according to MENA.
Arrest warrants were issued for Mohamed Badie, the Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood; Essam Al-Erian, vice-president of Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP); Mohamed Al-Beltagy, the secretary general of the FJP; Safwat Hegazy, a pro-Morsi television preacher; and Assem Abdel Maged, a leader in Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya.
MENA reported that the prosecution had already ordered the imprisonment of 70 pro-Morsi protesters during the Ramses clashes for 15 days pending investigations. All 70 were charged with attempted murder, use of force, possession of unlicensed weapons, destruction of public facilities and carrying explosive devices such as molotov cocktails.
The investigation also showed that pro-Morsi protesters tried to storm Al-Azbakeya Prison, but failed when residents of Ramses and policemen blocked them. Pro-Morsi protesters responded by “shooting fire” that caused the injury of 70 people, including 15 police officers, MENA reported.
The prosecutor’s office issued arrest warrants for prominent Islamist leaders in two other instances earlier this month. On 7 July, the office issued arrest warrants for Assem Abdel Maged and Tarek Al-Zomor, leaders of Islamist Building and Development Party, who were accused of inciting the violence that lead to deadly clashes in Bein El-Sarayat area in Giza
Brotherhood leaders Mohamed Badie and Mohamed Al-Betagy had arrest warrants issued to them earlier this month as well. They and eight other high-level Islamists were charged with inciting violence in front of the Republican Guards headquarters.
