Egypt releases detained Muslim Brotherhood members

Egyptian authorities have released at least 290 Muslim Brotherhood members who were detained during parliamentary elections late last year, a Brotherhood leader said today.

Ali Abdel Fattah said 296 Brotherhood members were released from two different prisons.

“We expect the other detainees to be released soon,” he said.

The Brotherhood, officially banned but somewhat tolerated by the government, accused authorities in December of detaining more than 1,250 of its supporters during three-stage parliamentary elections in retaliation for the group’s success at the polls.

A statement issued by Sawasya Centre for Human Rights, which monitored the recent polls, said 453 detainees had been released. Abdel Fattah could not confirm that number. The Sawasya statement said 296 Brotherhood supporters or members were still in custody.

The arrest campaign against the Muslim Brotherhood started on the eve of run-off Egypt parliamentary elections in late November and continued throughout the elections.

The Brotherhood’s surprising success increased tension with the ruling party, which has long dominated the 454-seat parliament.

The Brotherhood has been banned since 1954, but is tolerated with restrictions.

As it can’t field candidates in elections, its members stand as independents but their allegiance is known to voters.

The group calls for implementing Islamic law, but it has long been vague about what this means.

It campaigns for headscarves for women and against immodest dress, for example, but it insists it stands for a more moderate version of Islam than that followed in Saudi Arabia.