Brotherhood’s Mahdi Akef diagnosed with cancer

In mid-summer of 2014, former Muslim Brotherhood General Guide, Mohammed Mahdi Akef appeared in one of his trials with a head wrapping. His fans had compared him to the late Libyan leader, Omar Al-Mukhtar. Less than two years later, “Akef Al Mukhtar” has been diagnosed with cancer.

Born in 1928, Mohammed Mahdi Othman Akef is now 88 years old, as old as the Muslim Brotherhood itself.  He is considered the Brotherhood’s “Wikipedia” in terms of his knowledge of the group’s members, given that he has witnessed every era of the group.

He was diagnosed two days ago while being held in Leman Tora Hospital, a number of sources have said.

Muslim Brotherhood spokesman Mohamed Montaser referred to Akef’s deteriorating health in a tweet in which he said: “The coup’s ongoing crimes of slowly killing prisoners will not stop the prisoners from their fight for the sake of Egypt. Akef, [Brotherhood leader Mohamed] Abdul Ghani and other heroes are all paying the price of freedom with their lives.”

The group’s defence lawyer, Abdel Moneim Abdel-Maqsoud, said: “Akef’s family does not know that he has been diagnosed yet.” He confirmed that Akef “has been diagnosed with a number of illnesses, mostly those associated with old age,” noting that “his family will be visiting him today to check on him.”

Akef is serving a life sentence on charges of “murder and incitement to murder.” He denies the charges.