Egyptian security services have launched a campaign of arrests in different cities ahead of next year’s presidential elections, according to a report published by the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed newspaper.
At least 28 people have been detained as part of the campaign, which has targeted members of the Muslim Brotherhood, sympathisers with the group and supporters of the late President Mohamed Morsi.
Human rights sources said the investigations of the detainees focused on “the position of the Brotherhood’s members on the upcoming presidential elections, and the possibility of the group supporting any candidate running against President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi”.
The sources suggested that the campaign of arrests would continue until the date of the presidential election, which is expected to be held in February. The Muslim Brotherhood said in a statement that “rumours about the group’s communication with one of the potential presidential election candidates is unfounded and has nothing to do with reality”.
Khalaf Bayoumi, director of the El Shehab For Human Rights, said “arbitrary arrest and enforced disappearance” recently have targeted members of the Islamic movement and those close to politician Ahmed Tantawi, a potential presidential candidate.
Mohamed Ramadan, a human rights lawyer, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that anyone opposing Sisi or calling for a boycott of the polls will likely be targeted. “The pace of arrests or harassment of all opponents of the Egyptian regime will certainly increase,” Ramadan said.
