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| Morsi's family brands Egyptian army chief a 'criminal' | Morsi's family brands Egyptian army chief a 'criminal' |
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| The family of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi has branded the army chief who ordered his detention an international criminal, and announced plans to take legal action against him in the international courts. | |
| "What is happening to President Morsi is a violation of his rights by all measures," Osama Morsi, the ex-president's oldest son, told a news conference, flanked by his brother Abdulla and sister Shaimaa. "Our father is held incommunicado which contravenes the most basic of human rights conventions." | "What is happening to President Morsi is a violation of his rights by all measures," Osama Morsi, the ex-president's oldest son, told a news conference, flanked by his brother Abdulla and sister Shaimaa. "Our father is held incommunicado which contravenes the most basic of human rights conventions." |
| Morsi has been detained since 3 July, when the head of Egypt's armed forces, General Abdel Fatah al-Sisi, ordered his removal from power following days of mass protests against his year-long presidency, during which Morsi had himself presided over several high-profile rights violations. Osama Morsi, a lawyer, said his family had not heard from their father since the republican guards assigned for his protection quietly walked away that day and allowed army commandos to take him to an undisclosed military location. | |
| Shaimaa Morsi said: "As the family of the president and citizen Mohamed Morsi, we hold the leader of the coup – Sisi – and his group accountable for our father's and our president's health and overall condition. We are in the process of taking legal action through international and local courts against the person of Sisi and those aiding him in the coup." | Shaimaa Morsi said: "As the family of the president and citizen Mohamed Morsi, we hold the leader of the coup – Sisi – and his group accountable for our father's and our president's health and overall condition. We are in the process of taking legal action through international and local courts against the person of Sisi and those aiding him in the coup." |
| The Morsis' words stood in stark contrast with the adulation in which Sisi is currently held among large sections of the Egyptian public. Sisi's picture can be seen on many shop fronts and walls across Cairo – with millions delighted at how he forced Morsi from office, and apparently willing to turn a blind eye to recent military malpractice. | The Morsis' words stood in stark contrast with the adulation in which Sisi is currently held among large sections of the Egyptian public. Sisi's picture can be seen on many shop fronts and walls across Cairo – with millions delighted at how he forced Morsi from office, and apparently willing to turn a blind eye to recent military malpractice. |
| An army spokesman has been forced to deny that Sisi may one day seek the presidency. | |
| Asked after the conference if he held Sisi personally responsible for his father's treatment, Osama Morsi said he considered Sisi "an international criminal". | Asked after the conference if he held Sisi personally responsible for his father's treatment, Osama Morsi said he considered Sisi "an international criminal". |
| Speaking at the headquarters of the Engineering Syndicate in central Cairo, of which Morsi is a member, Osama Morsi said he had last spoken to Morsi on the afternoon of 3 July, in a meeting in which the ex-president had told his children to be proud of who they were, and had seemed enthusiastic about the approach of the holy month of Ramadan. | Speaking at the headquarters of the Engineering Syndicate in central Cairo, of which Morsi is a member, Osama Morsi said he had last spoken to Morsi on the afternoon of 3 July, in a meeting in which the ex-president had told his children to be proud of who they were, and had seemed enthusiastic about the approach of the holy month of Ramadan. |
| Morsi's release and restoration to the presidency is considered by his supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood as a prerequisite for their further engagement in the political process. Their stance has been derided by the military-backed interim government, who say there is no going back on recent events, and who are this week forging ahead with writing a new constitution. | Morsi's release and restoration to the presidency is considered by his supporters in the Muslim Brotherhood as a prerequisite for their further engagement in the political process. Their stance has been derided by the military-backed interim government, who say there is no going back on recent events, and who are this week forging ahead with writing a new constitution. |
| Despite international calls for his release, prosecutors say the ex-president is under investigation for inciting violence, spying, and ruining the economy – but no specific charges have yet been announced. | Despite international calls for his release, prosecutors say the ex-president is under investigation for inciting violence, spying, and ruining the economy – but no specific charges have yet been announced. |
| To add to the intrigue, Egypt's main state newspaper – al-Ahram – farcically claimed on Sunday that Morsi would be charged with collusion in a foreign plot involving the US ambassador, Anne Patterson. According to al-Ahram, the plot – thwarted by the military on 3 July – would have seen Egypt governed from a Cairo mosque. Both judicial and military spokesmen denied the claims, leading to questions about how al-Ahram – considered a mouthpiece of the state – could have so mangled the official line. | To add to the intrigue, Egypt's main state newspaper – al-Ahram – farcically claimed on Sunday that Morsi would be charged with collusion in a foreign plot involving the US ambassador, Anne Patterson. According to al-Ahram, the plot – thwarted by the military on 3 July – would have seen Egypt governed from a Cairo mosque. Both judicial and military spokesmen denied the claims, leading to questions about how al-Ahram – considered a mouthpiece of the state – could have so mangled the official line. |
| After forcing Morsi from power, the army nominally handed over power to a civilian president, judge Adly Mansour, who appointed a civilian prime minister, who then appointed a largely technocratic cabinet that included a number of Mubarak-era ministers. But few observers believe the army does not still wield considerable influence behind the scenes. | After forcing Morsi from power, the army nominally handed over power to a civilian president, judge Adly Mansour, who appointed a civilian prime minister, who then appointed a largely technocratic cabinet that included a number of Mubarak-era ministers. But few observers believe the army does not still wield considerable influence behind the scenes. |
| Additional reporting by Marwa Awad | Additional reporting by Marwa Awad |
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