Wednesday, April 02, 2014

Muslim Brotherhood 'Surprised' by British Terrorism Probe
An anti-coup demonstration and sit-in during Aug. 2013 in Egypt.
Ahram Online, Wednesday 2 Apr 2014

The Muslim Brotherhood, now under investigation in the UK, warns Western powers to beware of the 'treachery of the fascist military junta in Egypt'

The Muslim Brotherhood issued a statement Tuesday expressing surprise at the British prime minister's order that the group be investigated on suspicion of planning radical activities in Britain.

"The Brotherhood was surprised at the latest remarks, since all successive British governments had always been the most expertly informed about the group's positions and peaceful approach," said the statement.

The statement denounced media outlets seen as trying to demonise the group and link it to many terrorist attacks that have been taking place across Egypt.

It stated that the group is committed to an "ever peaceful approach in advocating its principles."

At the end of the statement, the Brotherhood called Western states and their governments to "beware of the treachery of the fascist military junta in Egypt and the pressure they apply in order to falsify facts about the group."

British Prime Minister David Cameron has asked UK intelligence agencies to gather information on the "philosophy and activities" of the Muslim Brotherhood and its potential threat to the UK.

The government acted following reports that Brotherhood leaders had met in London last year to decide their response to the ouster of it leading member, Mohamed Morsi, as president, according to The Times.

On 26 December 2013, Egypt's interim government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group.

In February, the Court for Urgent Matters upheld this designation.

Since Morsi's ouster from power, Egyptian security has conducted a wide crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters amid a continuing spate of armed attacks by militant groups.

The Brotherhood has repeatedly denied any connection to the attacks, many of which were claimed by the Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis group, an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/98151.aspx

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