Abul Fotouh on remand for further 15 days

CAIRO - 21 June 2018: Muslim Brotherhood (MB) dissident and former presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Aboul Fotouh was ordered to be was renewed for another 15 days pending investigations, on Thursday June 21.

According to the state-owned MENA news agency, the State Security Department intercepted communications between the banned MB organization and Abul Fotouh.

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.

Aboul Fotouh was one of many who announced years ago, specifically after 2011 their abandoning of the MB due to crucial differences between the group’s thoughts and their own. The main reason behind his dispute with the MB after years of cooperating, was announcing his intentions to run for presidency 2012.

He succeed to gain the support of huge number of Egyptians including several celebrates. However, he didn’t become president despite getting about 4 million votes, as Mohamed Morsi won in that year.

Despite his disputes with the legally-labeled terrorist, Muslim Brotherhood group, many politicians still think that he has strong relations with them.

Additional reporting by MENA