Islamists Warn of Backlash over Mohamed Morsi Death Sentence

THE OBSERVER: Muslim Brotherhood say prison break sentences are act of revenge by Egyptian regime as crackdown intensifies


Egyptian Islamists have warned that the world should brace itself for a backlash after the country’s first freely elected president, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Mohamed Morsi, was given a provisional death sentence nearly two years after he was overthrown by the army following mass protests against his rule.

Morsi was among over 100 men sentenced to death on Saturday for allegedly escaping prison during the 2011 uprising that toppled Morsi’s predecessor, Hosni Mubarak. Morsi and his colleagues were convicted of conspiring with Hamas, the Brotherhood’s Palestinian offshoot, whom judges decided had helped the prisoners leave jail in January 2011.

The sentence is provisional until the government’s most senior Islamic cleric gives his opinion. A final decision is due on 2 June. Even if the execution is upheld, analysts doubt that the Egyptian regime will follow through with such a provocative act. In a separate espionage case on Saturday, Morsi was sentenced to life in prison and, in a third case last month, to 20 years for incitement to violence. » | Patrick Kingsley in Cairo | Saturday, May 16, 2015

Charged Atmosphere: Sparks Fly at Morsi Trial between Supporters & Journos

The trial of Egypt's ousted president Mohammed Morsi has been adjourned until January next year - the former leader is in court on charges of inciting the killing of protesters in December last year. Hundreds of Islamist supporters have gathered outside the court in Cairo, amid a heavy police presence. RT's Paula Slier is joined by our correspondent Bel Trew who was at the hearing.

Egypt's Deposed President Morsi Goes On Trial

Judge suspends proceedings after Morsi, facing charges of violence and murder incitement, rejects prison clothes.

Provokation durch türkischen Ministerpräsidenten: Erdoğan gibt Israel Schuld an Mursis Sturz

SUEDDEUTSCHE.DE: Zündeln im ägyptischen Machtkampf: Der türkische Premier Erdoğan will Beweise dafür haben, dass Israel hinter dem Sturz des gewählten Präsidenten Mursi stecke. Das Verhältnis zwischen der Türkei und Ägypten hat sich seit dem Putsch verschlechtert.

Der türkische Ministerpräsident Recep Tayyip Erdoğan wirft Israel vor, in den Sturz des gewählten ägyptischen Präsidenten Mohammed Mursi verwickelt gewesen zu sein. Das berichten die türkische Zeitung Hürriyet und die israelische Haaretz auf ihren Webseiten.

Die Medien zitieren ihn mit einer Aussage, in der er dem Westen indirekt vorwirft, das demokratische Wahlergebnis in Ägypten vom Juni 2012 nicht anzuerkennen. "Jetzt sagt der Westen, dass Demokratie nicht gleichbedeutend sei mit der Wahlurne. (...) Aber wir wissen, dass die Wahlurne den Willen des Volkes zeigt", sagte Erdoğan demnach auf einem Treffen führender Vertreter seiner Regierungspartei AKP.

Dennoch habe man in Ägypten die Sichtweise des Westens durchgesetzt. "Wer steckt dahinter? Israel. Wir haben Beweise.", sagte Erdoğan. Um seiner Aussage mehr Substanz zu verleihen, zitierte er einen jüdischen Intellektuellen aus Frankreich. Erdoğan zufolge habe dieser bereits 2011 gesagt: "Die Muslimbruderschaft wird nicht an der Macht sein, selbst wenn sie die Wahl gewinnen sollte." » | Dienstag, 20. August 2013

Muslim Brotherhood Must Be Removed Like Nazis, Egypt's Ambassador to Britain Says

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Exclusive: Egypt's ambassador to Britain has said the military-led offensive on the opposition set out to be no different from the British response to the 2011 London riots, but turned bloody when the Muslim Brotherhood started firing on the security forces.

Ashraf ElKholy told the Telegraph that the Muslim Brotherhood offered Egypt a stark choice that it either exercise power or it would assert itself with violence. When the military-backed interim government displaced the Muslim Brotherhood's popularly elected leader, Mohammad Morsi, the organisation opted for confrontation with the state.

"There is no difference with what David Cameron did to deal with the demonstrations here in London," he said. "If the demonstrators don't have any weapons, the police could have reached them and taken them into custody. Nobody would have been hurt. But when the demonstrators have pistols and guns and the police are lined up with guns pointing at them, the authorities have to defend themselves. That is the difference."

Speaking in Egypt's embassy in a Mayfair townhouse, Mr Kholy compared the one-year rule of Mr Morsi to the Islamist takeover of the Iranian state after the 1979 revolution and said that, like Nazism, the Muslim Brotherhood ideology sought to dominate Egyptian society. » | Damien McElroy | Monday, August 19, 2013

Morsi's Son: US Fails to Defend Democracy Despite Talk in Media

The Muslim Brotherhood has lost its position in the Egyptian government, but popular support is still strong. Thousands are on the street protesting what they call a military coup. We talk to Osama Morsi, the son of the ousted President Mohamed Morsi, about democracy, the Brotherhood's future, his father's whereabouts and to what end are they prepared to fight.

Related »

Egypt's Ousted President Morsi 'Abducted by Army'

BBC: The family of the ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi has accused the army of abducting him.

His daughter Shaimaa told a news conference in Cairo that the family was taking legal measures against the army.

Mr Morsi has been held at an undisclosed location without charge since he was removed from power on 3 July.

At least three people were killed in clashes on Monday between opponents and supporters of the former president.

Mr Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood movement has refused to recognise the new military-backed administration and continues to hold almost daily street protests. » | Monday, July 22, 2013

Saudi Princess: Muslim Brotherhood Was Doomed to Fail

Tyrants are tyrants only when they are backed by the global powers, according to Saudi Princess Basmah Bint Saud. As an activist, writer and a businesswoman, Basmah Bint Saud is known for her strong support of those suffering from military, humanitarian, or civil crises in the Middle East. On SophieCo, the member of the royal family speaks about the Egyptian coup, Syrian mass genocide, and the forces that drive revolutions.

Egypt Army Opens Fire on Pro-Morsi Protesters

At least three supporters of deposed President Morsi killed, as crowd marches on barracks where ousted leader is held.

Bashar Al Assad Sees Removal Of Morsi As A Victory

Overthrow of Muslim Brotherhood Leader 'Has International Reverberations'

Read the CNN article here | Jane Kinninmont, Special to CNN | Thursday, July 04, 2013

Egypt's Army Drives Mohamed Morsi from Presidency in Dramatic Coup; Morsi Detained at Military Facility

Egypt's deposed president Mohamed Morsi is being detained in a military facility and arrest warrants have been issued for 300 members of the Muslim Brotherhood after the army took control of the country following a week of protest.

Read the Telegraph article here | Richard Spencer, Cairo | Thursday, July 04, 2013
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Egypt ousts Mohamed Morsi: Barack Obama 'deeply concerned': Barack Obama has said he is "deeply concerned" by the Egyptian military's political intervention as he faced growing pressure to cut off American aid to the country's armed forces. » | Raf Sanchez in Washingon | Thursday, July 04, 2013

Egypt Army Topples President, Announces Transition

REUTERS.COM: Egypt's armed forces overthrew elected Islamist President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday and announced a political transition with the support of a wide range of political, religious and youth leaders.


After a day of drama in which tanks and troops deployed near the presidential palace as a military deadline for Mursi to yield to mass protests passed, the top army commander announced on television that the president had "failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people".

Flanked by political and religious leaders and top generals, General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi announced the suspension of the Islamist-tinged constitution and a roadmap for a return to democratic rule under a revised rulebook.

The president of the supreme constitutional court will act as interim head of state, assisted by an interim council and a technocratic government until new presidential and parliamentary elections are held. » | Tom Perry and Yasmine Saleh | Cairo | Wednesday, Junly 03, 2013

Egypt Morsi: Mass Political Protests Grip Cities
BBC: Huge protests calling for the resignation of Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi and early presidential elections are taking place in the capital, Cairo, and other cities.

Tens of thousands of opponents have massed in Tahrir Square and outside the main presidential palace.

Protesters accuse Mr Morsi of failing to tackle economic and security problems since taking power a year ago.

A presidential spokesman urged them to respect the democratic process.

Morsi supporters massed in the Cairo suburb of Nasr City with banners denouncing the opposition.

The president's critics say the country's first Islamist president has put the agenda of the Muslim Brotherhood party ahead of the country's wider interests.

In Cairo, they have been chanting: "Irhal! Irhal!" ("Leave! Leave!"), reports the BBC's Aleem Maqbool.

Demonstrations are being reported across the country (+ video) » | Sunday, June 30, 2013

Egypt Braces for Massive Protests after Bitter Year of Morsi
It's been exactly one year since Egypt's President Mohhamed Morsi took office and the country's now bracing for its biggest anti-government protests in months. The unrest has been building up over the past week, and has brought deadly chaos to Egypt's biggest cities. RT's Bel Trew reports.

'Fig Leaf Democracy Not Enough, Expect Egyptian Boil-over'
Egypt's main opposition has rejected President Morsi's offer of dialogue on reconciliation and insists on holding early elections. The country's seen clashes between supporters and opponents of the Islamic leader, with a major protest expected on Sunday. Two people were killed and hundreds injured in street fighting, as Morsi was preparing for a national address marking his first year in power.

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Egypt 'could slide into civil war': Egypt's leading religious authority has warned of "civil war" calling for calm after a member of the Muslim Brotherhood was killed ahead of mass rallies against the rule of President Mohamed Morsi. » | Reuters | Friday, June 28, 2013

US Condemns Mohammed Morsi Anti-Semitic Remarks

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The White House has condemned anti-Semitic remarks by Mohammed Morsi, the Egyptian president, who once described Israelis as the “descendants of apes and pigs”.

Mr Morsi’s slurs, which emerged in recordings from 2010, were termed “deeply offensive” by Jay Carney, Mr Obama’s press secretary, who said concerns had been raised with Egyptian officials.

Mr Carney urged Mr Morsi, who has promised to respect Egypt's decades-old peace treaty with Israel, to promptly state publicly that he respects people of all faiths.

“This type of rhetoric is unacceptable in a democratic Egypt," he said during a briefing at The White House, adding: “It is counter to peace."

The intervention from Washington came amid growing controversy over the three-year-old comments, in a speech and subsequent television interview, which were unearthed by researchers.

Mr Morsi, then a Muslim Brotherhood opposition politician, urged Egyptians to “nurse our children and our grandchildren on hatred” for Jews and Zionists.

He also described Zionists as “these bloodsuckers who attack the Palestinians, these warmongers, the descendants of apes and pigs.” » | Jon Swaine, Washington | Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Morsi Fans the Flames of Hatred in Egypt
SPIEGEL ONLINE INTERNATIONAL: Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi addressed his nation on Thursday night. But instead of striking a conciliatory tone aimed at calming the tense situation in his country, he continued to toe the Muslim Brotherhood line. More violence is almost sure to be the result, and Morsi himself shoulders the blame.

In the end, Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi took all of 35 minutes for his nationally televised speech Thursday night. And his intention was clear. During the entire day leading up to the appearance, Morsi's advisors had repeatedly explained that the president wanted to explain himself and his policies to the people of Egypt and to inject calm into what has become the most severe crisis since the revolution against his predecessor Hosni Mubarak.

And it was certainly entertaining. Originally, the palace had announced that the speech would take place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, but then the "Address to the Great Egyptian Nation" kept getting pushed back until finally, at 10:30 p.m., Morsi turned up on national television in front of an Egyptian flag.

He need not have made the effort. The Islamist president didn't accomplish a single one of his goals with his address, nor did he really try. Instead, his flowery rhetoric served merely to further deepen the deep divide between his supporters and the political opposition from the youth movement, the left-leaning and secular parties and even the judiciary. » | Matthias Gebauer in Cairo | Friday, December 07, 2012

Egypt’s New President Mohammad Morsi Sacks Army Chief

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Egypt's Islamist president sacked the country's top generals on Sunday night in a dramatic attempt to stamp civilian control over an institution that has run the country for almost six decades.

Mohammad Morsi dismissed Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi as defence minister and head of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, the body that removed the former dictator Hosni Mubarak from power after the popular uprising last year.

In a clear signal that the balance of power was shifting away from the generals, Mr Morsi also issued a decree cancelling an army declaration that restricted the powers of the presidency.

Mr Morsi, who was elected in June and is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, appointed Mahmoud Mekki, a judge with an independent reputation, as vice-president and promoted Lt Gen Abdel Fattah al-Sissi to the post of defence minister.

Field Marshal Tantawi, 76, acted as Egypt's de facto head of state for 17 months after Mubarak was ousted in response to the Arab Spring demonstrations in Cairo. Before that he had headed the defence ministry for 20 years.

"Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi has been transferred into retirement from today," said Yasser Ali, a presidential spokesman. "The decision was sovereign by the president to pump new blood into the military establishment for the sake of developing the new, modern state." » | Damien McElroy, and Magdy Samaan in Cairo | Sunday, August 12, 2012

Clinton Arrives in Egypt for Talks with Morsi
Democratic transition and economic development on agenda for US Secretary of State's first meeting with new president.