Government Announces Intent to Clear Protest Camps | More Arrest Warrants for Brotherhood Figures


The interim government took to the airwaves to instruct security forces to end the two continuous pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo, calling them “unacceptable terrorizing” and “a threat to Egyptian national security” in a televised statement. Amnesty International condemned the government’s decision as a “recipe for disaster,” and the Muslim Brotherhood affirmed that the sit-ins will continue until Morsi is reinstated. Brotherhood spokesman Ahmed Aref stated that such an act is itself terrorism against Morsi’s supporters.

In a continuation of past behavior, prosecutors again brought charges against Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie for incitement to violence, also charging deputy Khairat al-Shater and senior Brotherhood leader Rashad Bayoum. The detentions of Saad al-Katatni and Mahdy Akef were renewed. and other Muslim Brotherhood members, including Osama Yassin, Safwat Hegazy, Essam al-Erian and Mahmoud Ezzat, were ordered arrested. An Egyptian court affirmed the April sentencing of former Prime Minister Hisham Kandil to one year in prison for failing to enforce a court order while in office under former President Morsi.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle arrived for a visit which will include meetings with Egyptian officials to discuss bilateral relations between the two countries. His visit was noted as the first of a foreign minister since Morsi’s ouster.