Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood: 'Terrorist' label an attempt to terrorise free Egyptians

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood said that the government’s labelling of the group as “terrorist” is an attempt to “terrorise the Brotherhood and the free Egyptian people” to acknowledge the post-coup authority.

The Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab issued a decree on Thursday ratifying a court verdict to label the Brotherhood a “terrorist” group.

In December 2013, the military-led authorities declared in a press conference that the Muslim Brotherhood and all its activities would be banned. It blamed the group for a bombing in Dakahliya which led to the death of 16 people, despite the group’s condemnation of the attack. A militant group, Ansar Bayt Al Maqdis claimed responsibility for the attack.

“For the second time, the putschist Prime Minister declares the Brotherhood a terrorist group,” the Brotherhood said in a statement Friday. “The lie and lie until they believe themselves and until others believe them, because no one believed them after their first announcement in December.”

“They want the Brotherhood and free Egyptians to succumb to their illegitimate power and to allow them to take over power and wealth and spread corruption in the country.”

The Brotherhood considered the second announcement as an attempt to cover up state-led terrorism, including torture, arbitrary arrests, and extrajudicial killings practiced by the coup authorities against peaceful protesters.

“For the thousandth time, the Brotherhood reaffirms that it rejects violence and terrorism, whatever their source. We stand with truth, justice, and freedom, and we follow a peaceful approach. We are committed to democracy and the power of the people, and we respect the people’s will,” the statement added.