Ikhwanweb :: The Muslim Brotherhood Official English Website

Tens Arrested in Alexandria, Muslim Brotherhood Vows No Retreat

In a similar scenario to the November’s parliamentary elections, police forces sealed off downtown Alexandria and prevented voters from casting their ballots in the local Chamber of Commerce elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood is fielding four candidates. Police also arrested tens of the Muslim Brotherhood members.

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In a similar scenario to the November’s parliamentary elections, police forces sealed off downtown Alexandria and prevented voters from casting their ballots in the local Chamber of Commerce elections in which the Muslim Brotherhood is fielding four candidates.

Police also arrested tens of the Muslim Brotherhood members.

Large number of trucks carrying state security soldiers and plainclothed officers were seen surrounding the voting places and closing all exits leading to the city’s financial district. In unusual show of force, police also occupied the roofs of several apartment buildings nearby the voting HQ.

Witnesses, including members of parliament, gave accounts of widespread manipulations of the voting process where votes were forged in large numbers on the behalf of the government’s candidates. Witnesses also told Ikhwanweb that some pro-government voters were given special cards and passwords to pass through and be able to vote

Earlier during the campaign, the Muslim Brotherhood candidates for the Chamber of Commerce had issued several appeals to human rights groups and news agencies to monitor the elections after the government arrested several of their campaign staff members including the entire media and coordination team.

In their response to the police arrests, Mr. Ali Abdel Fattah, member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Alexandria, asserted that the “Muslim Brotherhood will not retreat in its battle for reform and will not be intimidated”. He also added that “the Egyptian regime is unable to tolerate any opposition even in the form of minor elections as in the case of the Chamber of Commerce elections”