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Muslim Brotherhood supporters hold a portrait of Mohamed Morsi during a rally in Cairo, on July 24, 2013/AFP

World

Egypt court bans all Muslim Brotherhood activities

The Muslim Brotherhood “used the pure religion of Islam as a cover for activities that contradict true Islam and violate the law,” the court ruled.

The decision further reduces the already remote chances of reconciliation between the interim authorities and the influential movement, which still has a loyal grass roots base.

“A ban represents a blunt approach in which there is no space for the Brotherhood in political and social life,” said Michael Hanna, an Egypt specialist with the New York based Century Foundation think tank.

Senior Brotherhood members had told AFP the movement was willing to concede its core demand for Morsi’s reinstatement, but wanted guarantees its imprisoned members would be released and its leaders would be allowed to operate freely.

But the interim government feels little incentive to make a deal with the Brotherhood that would alter its roadmap for a new constitution and then elections by mid 2014, analysts say.

The government says it is for the courts to decide whether to release the Brotherhood members currently in custody, who face charges including incitement to murder.

More than 100 policemen have been killed in clashes with Morsi’s supporters since his overthrow.

Dozens of churches and Christian owned properties have also been torched by Islamists angry at the support given to the coup by the leadership of the Coptic Church.

Under Morsi, the Brotherhood had tried to legalise its status by registering an NGO in its name.

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“There were issues of transparency that needed to be addressed in a legal fashion. It should have been allowed to re-register to clarify it’s funding stream,” Hanna said.

The Brotherhood registered the NGO amid a court case examining the movement’s legality.

But the registration, under a government minister belonging to the movement, was opaque and rushed, Hanna said.

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