MB spokesperson threatens legal action after newspaper editor-in-chief says Muslim Brotherhood leaders met with the former president to assure him they would not dispute the verdict if the court finds him innocent.
n its first issue, published Tuesday, the new independent weekly newspaper named “Veto” claimed Muslim Brotherhood (MB) General Guide Mohamed Badei had recently met with ousted president Hosni Mubarak. MB spokesperson Mahmoud Ghuzlan denied the allegations telling ONTV program “Akher Kalam” late Monday that these claims were aimed at affecting the results of the third round of elections.
Ghuzlan told the program hosted by television presenter Yosri Fouda that the MB is planning to take this issue to court. He questioned why the MB would decide to meet with the very person who imprisoned and tortured thousands of its members.
Meanwhile, journalist Essam Kamel, the newspaper’s editor-in-chief, assured that Veto’s first issue would include all the details of the meeting between Badei and Mubarak. He added that the story will reveal that the meeting was requested by Mubarak, who is currently attending the 17th session of his trial, to ascertain what the MB’s reaction would be if the court finds him innocent.
The meeting, according to Kamel, was also attended by MB leader Khairat El-Shater who had, together with Badei, allegedly assured the ousted president that they would accept the court’s judgment if it does find him innocent but that they could not predict what the public reaction would be. Kamel insisted that he has the necessary documents to prove his story if the MB officials take legal action.
The MB released a press statement on Monday confirming that their lawyers will file a complaint against the newspaper to the general prosecutor as soon as the Veto issue is published on Tuesday.
The MB have been previously criticised following statements made by their spokesman. In a televised interview last week, Ghuzlan said that his organisation would accept, as a compromise, financial compensation for the families of martyrs killed during recent clashes rather than other forms of retribution which include the trial of those responsible.
[Produced in partnership with Ahram Online.]
From Jadaliyya Editors:
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