Egyptian police detain prominent anti-coup politicians

Two prominent anti-coup politicians have been arrested by the interim authorities in Egypt. Former parliamentarian Essam Sultan and Abul Ela Madi were detained, it is believed, for articulating their opposition to the military coup. A police spokesman said that both men have been taken to Tora Prison near Hilwan.

Abul Ela Madi is the head of Al-Wasat Party and Essam Sultan is both one of his deputies and an outspoken critic of the coup. Security sources claim that all legal niceties were observed before and during the arrest in cooperation with the Public Prosecution Service.

One of Sultan’s fellow deputies, Hatem Azzam, pointed out that more arrests are expected. It is, he claimed, the result of the mandate asked for by coup leader Abdul Fattah Al-Sisi.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Azzam added, “This is clear proof that anti-coup groups are being excluded from the political arena in what is a very dangerous period for Egypt.”