CAIRO // The supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood faces trial within a week on charges of incitement to murder after he was arrested early yesterday.
Mohamed Badie, 70, is the latest Islamist leader to be detained in a wide-ranging crackdown on what Egypt's interim government refers to as terrorism.
Several Brotherhood leaders and supporters have been detained on charges linked to the turmoil of recent weeks in which more than 1,000 people have died.
They include the former supreme guide, Mohamed Mahdi Akef, deputies Khairat Al Shater and Rashad Bayoumi, and leading members of the Brotherhood's political wing, the Freedom and Justice Party, and its political allies.
Several western nations, including the United States, have condemned the crackdown, and yesterday American officials said that military aid to Egypt had been stopped pending a decision on future US policy.
The detention of Mr Badie coincided with a lull in furious protests against the removal and detention of of the Islamist president Mohammed Morsi and his government. Whether the reduction in number and frequency of demonstrations is a sign of exhaustion, fear of more deaths, confusion in the wake of loss of leadership, or a hiatus for a rethink of strategy is not known.
Some analysts have pointed out that the group, which was well organised and won five consecutive parliamentary and presidential elections after the fall of Hosni Mubarak, may now suffer from the decapitation of its leadership.
"The Brotherhood cannot function effectively once its top leaders have been apprehended," said Eric Trager of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
"After all, the Brotherhood is at its core a hierarchical vanguard, in which legions of fully indoctrinated cadres are organised under a nationwide, pyramidal chain-of-command," Mr Trager said.
Mr Badie's role at the head of the Brotherhood will be taken by his deputy, Mahmoud Ezzat, 69. An American-educated engineering professor and a Brotherhood member since 1962, Mr Ezzat was imprisoned several times during the Mubarak regime, but has also made contact with Christian leaders during his time as deputy.
Khalil Al Anani, a senior fellow with the Middle East Institute, said that while the Brotherhood was a structured group, it was organised so that mid-level leaders should be able to continue to operate even in the absence of their higher leaders.
"It has different levels and each level can operate independently," he said. "There are no strong communications between the leaders and grassroots now, but they have a very strong underground network and structure. They will be less effective but this will not end the movement."
He said an outpouring of support from offshoots of the Brotherhood from Tunisia to Yemen was unlikely to help the movement, as Arabian Gulf countries including the UAE and Saudi Arabia had pledged moral and substantial financial support to the military-backed authorities.
In Washington, a senior Senate aide said the transfer of military aid had been stopped in practice, although this was not necessarily official policy, and there was no indication of how long it would last.
A National Security Council spokeswoman, Bernadette Meehan, denied that there had been any policy change on Egypt. "As the president has said, we are reviewing all of our assistance to Egypt. No policy decisions have been made at this point regarding the remaining assistance," she said.
A Cabinet-level meeting was taking place in Washington last night, involving the secretary of state John Kerry, to discuss cutting some of the $1.5 billion US aid to Egypt.
Saudi Arabia made clear on Monday that the Gulf states would make up any shortfall.
Mr Al Anani said the Brotherhood was perfectly used to operating under varying degrees of internationally backed state pressure. Since its foundation in 1928, it has a history of resilience in the face of adversity. But there was no doubt that this was a deep crisis for the movement. He pointed out that this was the first time since 1984 that a supreme guide of the movement had been detained.
"And the grassroots is not controllable," he said. "This can lead to some splits." Islamist leaders have warned that if the Brotherhood is outlawed, then people disillusioned with democracy could easily turn to violence.
When he appeared on television yesterday, humbled in a plain kandura and flanked by armed men, Mr Badie looked dignified but defeated.
Six weeks ago he was on a podium outside the Rabaa Al Adawiyya mosque in front of thousands of supporters, preaching a fiery message of defiance in the face of the military removal of the Brotherhood-supported president Mohammed Morsi.
"God is greater than all those who sold out the blood of martyrs. God is our witness," he declared. "I did not escape an arrest warrant. Such accusations are mere lies.
"We are not cowards, we are revolutionaries." Every inch the demagogue, he shouted into the microphone and gesticulated furiously.
With that podium burned to the ground a week ago in a police operation that killed hundreds of Brotherhood supporters, and Mr Badie set to face trial next week for inciting violence, his grandiloquence seems a distant memory. His son Ammar, 38, was killed in violence last Friday.
The Egyptian authorities insist there are armed elements among demonstrators, and there has been a wave of sectarian attacks on churches across the country, as well killings of security forces, particularly in the unstable Sinai area.
Egypt marked the first of three days of mourning yesterday for 25 conscripts in the Central Security Forces who were shot dead early on Monday in an ambush near the Egyptian-Israeli border. The interim president Adly Mansour extended condolences to their families.
Speculation continued to grow yesterday that Hosni Mubarak may be freed after a court reviews a petition for his release today.
He is standing trial for a second time for corruption and failing to stop the killing of protesters, but his lawyers say that because he has been in prison for two years without a conviction, he must be released on bail.
afordham@thenational.ae
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The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
How to donate
Text the following numbers:
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*numbers work for both Etisalat and du
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
Race card
1.30pm: Handicap (PA) Dh 50,000 (Dirt) 1,400m
2pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 84,000 (D) 1,400m
2.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,200m
3pm: Conditions (TB) Dh 100,000 (D) 1.950m
3.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 76,000 (D) 1,800m
4pm: Maiden (TB) Dh 60,000 (D) 1,600m
4.30pm: Handicap (TB) Dh 68,000 (D) 1,000m
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirectors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Amit%20Joshi%20and%20Aradhana%20Sah%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECast%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Shahid%20Kapoor%2C%20Kriti%20Sanon%2C%20Dharmendra%2C%20Dimple%20Kapadia%2C%20Rakesh%20Bedi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
UAE squad
Ali Kashief, Salem Rashid, Khalifa Al Hammadi, Khalfan Mubarak, Ali Mabkhout, Omar Abdelrahman, Mohammed Al Attas (Al Jazira), Mohmmed Al Shamsi, Hamdan Al Kamali, Mohammad Barghash, Khalil Al Hammadi (Al Wahda), Khalid Eisa, Mohammed Shakir, Ahmed Barman, Bandar Al Ahbabi (Al Ain), Adel Al Hosani, Al Hassan Saleh, Majid Suroor (Sharjah), Waleed Abbas, Ismail Al Hammadi, Ahmed Khalil (Shabab Al Ahli Dubai) Habib Fardan, Tariq Ahmed, Mohammed Al Akbari (Al Nasr), Ali Saleh, Ali Salmeen (Al Wasl), Hassan Al Mahrami (Baniyas)
The specs: 2019 Haval H6
Price, base: Dh69,900
Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Seven-speed automatic
Power: 197hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 315Nm @ 2,000rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Recipe
Garlicky shrimp in olive oil
Gambas Al Ajillo
Preparation time: 5 to 10 minutes
Cooking time: 5 minutes
Serves 4
Ingredients
180ml extra virgin olive oil; 4 to 5 large cloves of garlic, minced or pureed (or 3 to 4 garlic scapes, roughly chopped); 1 or 2 small hot red chillies, dried (or ¼ teaspoon dried red chilli flakes); 400g raw prawns, deveined, heads removed and tails left intact; a generous splash of sweet chilli vinegar; sea salt flakes for seasoning; a small handful of fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped
Method
▶ Heat the oil in a terracotta dish or frying pan. Once the oil is sizzling hot, add the garlic and chilli, stirring continuously for about 10 seconds until golden and aromatic.
▶ Add a splash of sweet chilli vinegar and as it vigorously simmers, releasing perfumed aromas, add the prawns and cook, stirring a few times.
▶ Once the prawns turn pink, after 1 or 2 minutes of cooking, remove from the heat and season with sea salt flakes.
▶ Once the prawns are cool enough to eat, scatter with parsley and serve with small forks or toothpicks as the perfect sharing starter. Finish off with crusty bread to soak up all that flavour-infused olive oil.
THE RESULTS
5pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Alnawar, Connor Beasley (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,400m
Winner: Raniah, Noel Garbutt, Ernst Oertel
6pm: Handicap (PA) Dh90,000 2,200m
Winner: Saarookh, Richard Mullen, Ana Mendez
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Jewel Crown (PA) Rated Conditions Dh125,000 1,600m
Winner: RB Torch, Tadhg O’Shea, Eric Lemartinel
7pm: Al Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap Dh70,000 1,600m
Winner: MH Wari, Antonio Fresu, Elise Jeane
7.30pm: Handicap Dh90,000 1,600m
Winner: Mailshot, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
A MINECRAFT MOVIE
Director: Jared Hess
Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa
Rating: 3/5
