Egypt: ruling on Muslim Brotherhood’s party postponed

Egypt’s high administrative court on Saturday postponed lawsuits calling for the dissolution of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), the political arm of the Muslim Brotherhood, until mid-February next year, Egyptian daily al-Ahram reported.

The decision came after a panel of judges made non-binding recommendations to the administrative court that the FJP be disbanded, according to Agence France-Presse.

A lawsuit filed against the FJP by the head of the judicial group Independence Current, Ahmed al-Fadali, claimed that it is illegal because of its religious orientation – a stance that was outlawed in a July declaration by Egypt’s interim government.

The interim constitutional declaration states that “no political party shall be formed that discriminates on the basis of gender, origin or religion.”

On Sept. 23, a court banned all Muslim Brotherhood activities and seized the group’s assets and funds - also outlawing any Brotherhood-connected institution.

While the group appealed the decision soon after, their appeal was rejected earlier this month.

The FJP was founded following the 2011 revolution that overthrew former president Hosni Mubarak.

It was headed by Mohammad Mursi before his election in June 2012, and was suppressed following his ouster earlier this year.

Over 2,000 Islamists and Brotherhood supporters, including party members have been arrested since a crackdown on protesters in August that killed hundreds.

(With AFP)