Detention of Aboul Fotouh renewed for 15 days

CAIRO – 3 April 2018: The detention of Abdel Moneim Aboul-Fotouh, president of the political party Masr Al-Qawya (Strong Egypt), was renewed for another 15 days, pending investigations into spreading false news and harming national interests.

The State Security Prosecution also charged Aboul Fotouh with leading an unlawful group, alleging that the group's aim is to carry out acts that violate the constitution, hinder state institutions from carrying out their roles, disrupt the public order and endanger the national unity, safety and security.

On February 12, Egyptian lawyer Samir Sabry submitted an official complaint to the public prosecutor calling for the arrest of former presidential candidate Aboul Fotouh, after he appeared on Al-Jazeera television show from London. Sabry accused Aboul Fotouh of “spreading fake news” and demeaning Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

This is the fourth time his detention was renewed since his arrest on February 25, 2018.

In further news, Egypt’s Attorney-General Nabil Sadek ordered the confiscation of assets belonging to Aboul Fotouh and 15 others, according to a statement from his office.

The decision was based on the state’s national security investigations, which revealed that the defendants were “using their money for terrorist activities,” the statement added.