Security authorities have arrested six Muslim Brotherhood leaders in Cairo, Giza, Ismailia, Alexandria, and Port Said in the latest detention campaign before the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for November.
The Islamist group's lawyer Abdewl Fattah Abdel Maqsoud predicted the government will escalate intimidation tactics within the next few days. He labelled the arrests "politicized" and "baseless."
Mohamed Gamal Heshmat, consultant for the Brotherhood, said the detentions represent an "outdated, desperate message", stressing that the move will not influence the Brotherhood's stance towards parliamentary elections.
The group is expected to announce its slate of People's Assembly candidates next week.
Despite being outlawed in 1954, the Brotherhood remains Egypt's largest opposition movement, enjoying a significant presence in Egypt's political landscape. The 2005 elections delivered the group about 20 percent of parliamentary seats.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
