EGYPT COURT POSTPONES DISBANDING OF BROTHERHOOD’S FJP

         Cairo, 12 Muharram 1435/17 November 2013 (MINA) – Egypt’s High Administrative Court postponed on Saturday (16/11) disbanding of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the Muslim Brotherhood’s political wing, until 15 February 2014.

         The court was expected to issue a decision on the lawsuits after its board of commissioners recommended disbanding the party earlier on Saturday, Egypt’s  Ahram online reported as quoted by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).

         Head of the judicial group the judge’s Independence Current , Ahmed El-Fadali, filed a lawsuit against the party, arguing that it is illegal because it was founded on a religious basis, which became ‘unconstitutional’ based on the 8 July 2013 interim constitutional declaration.

          Article 10 of the July of the interim  government: “No political party shall be formed that discriminates on the basis of gender, origin or religion.”

          El-Fadali also said that since a recent court ruling officially banned the Brotherhood, a political party springing from the same group should also be banned.  

          On 23 September, a court banned all Muslim Brotherhood activities and ordered the seizure of the group’s assets and funds. The court also outlawed any institution connected to the Brotherhood.

          The group appealed the decision shortly after, but the appeal was rejected on 6 November. 

The FJP was founded following the 2011 revolution that ousted then- president of 30 years Hosni Mubarak. The party nominated Mohamed Morsi to run as its candidate in the 2012 Egyptian presidential elections. Morsi won the elections, but was deposed a year later by the army amid mass protests against his rule. 

          Since Morsi’s ouster, the Brotherhood has been protesting what they consider a “coup” against the country’s first democratically elected president. Tensions have risen between security forces and Brotherhood supporters amid a harsh crackdown on the latter’s members. Hundreds of Morsi’s supporters have been arrested in recent months, and many will stand trial, primarily for charges of inciting violence. (T/P03/E1)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)