Egypt seizes assets of Muslim Brotherhood supporters

A Cairo court has ruled to confiscate the assets of hundreds of people and companies suspected of supporting and funding the banned Muslim Brotherhood group, Egypt’s flagship state daily Al-Ahram reported late Thursday.

Although the court ruling was issued on Dec. 3 of last year, it has not been reported by Egyptian media until now.

The ruling calls for the seizure of assets from 614 individuals, 268 financial entities and 30 hospitals accused of “belonging to, supporting or funding the Muslim Brotherhood group”.

Seized assets, Al-Ahram reported, will be placed in the Public Treasury.

The ruling is not, however, final, and can still be appealed before a higher court.

Following Egypt’s 2013 military coup, the Egyptian authorities designated the Brotherhood as a “terrorist group”.

Since then, multiple court rulings have been issued calling for the confiscation of assets from Brotherhood members and leaders.

Last September, the authorities confiscated the assets of 1,589 people, including Mohamed Morsi -- Egypt’s first freely elected president and a Brotherhood leader -- and his family; 1,133 civil associations; and 118 companies, hospitals and news sites.