Former General Guide of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Mahdi Akef has been transferred from prison to hospital after his health condition deteriorated, Arabi21 reported yesterday.
In a post on Facebook, 88-year-old Akef’s daughter wrote: “Pray for your former Supreme Guide Mohamed Mahdi Akef as he was admitted to the hospital. We do not know the reason yet.”
His lawyer Ismail Abu-Baraka said: “Akef’s wife went to visit him today [Sunday] in prison and the officer there told her that he was transferred to hospital on Saturday without giving any reasons.”
Abu-Baraka said Akef was transferred to the hospital of the notorious prison of Leman Tora for six months after his health deteriorated and he became in need of continuous medical treatment. He noted that his transfer was “worrying”.
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Akef is being held on charges relating to one case in which he was handed a life sentence. This was later revoked by the Court of Cassation in January and he has been awaiting a retrial since.
The lawyer noted that he had lately requested his release due to his old age and fragile health but the judge refused.
No official Egyptian source revealed information on Akef’s situation however a security official, who spoke to Arabi21 on condition of anonymity, said the senior Brotherhood member was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening for medical tests because the tests could not be carried out in the prison hospital.
The sources said that this is not the first time Akef has had to be admitted to hospital.
In May this year it was reported that Akef was diagnosed with cancer.