Ezzat Khamis, the Head of the Judicial Committee to count and manage funds of the Muslim Brotherhood, announced in a Thursday press conference the decision to freeze the assets of Juhayna Food Industries CEO Safwan Thabet.
The decision excluded Juhayna, which is Egypt’s top dairy company, and which is unlikely to be affected by the move against its CEO. Thabet was said to be allegedly affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, due to his being a relative of a former supreme guide of the group.
The move also included the seizure of 66 other companies, 14 of which are money exchange shops.
State media reported earlier this week that the finances of 16 hospitals across Egypt are to be seized, for belonging to “members of the Muslim Brotherhood”. The administration of those hospitals will be placed under the direct responsibility of the Health Ministry whilst they continue to operate.
The state has also harshly pursued NGOs accused of funding the Muslim Brotherhood or other Islamist groups, to be used in attacks on police and military personnel.
By May 2015, the Ministry of Solidarity’s statistics said 420 “Muslim Brotherhood” NGOs have been banned.
