Special to WorldTribune.com

CAIRO — Egypt, less than two months after the ouster of its first Islamist president, has begun the process to outlaw the Muslim Brotherhood.

Officials said the new military-backed regime has launched measures to disband the Brotherhood, estimated to have millions of followers.

The officials said the decision was based on a determination that the Brotherhood was linked to what they termed terrorism.

“This has become a legal duty,” Egyptian Social Solidarity Minister Ahmed Borai said.

Borai said the legal campaign to dismantle the Brotherhood was assigned to his ministry. He said the official termination of the Islamist movement could be issued in September.

After decades of being outlawed, the Brotherhood was declared legal in late 2012 under then-President Mohammed Morsi, a leader of the movement. The Brotherhood was then registered as a non-governmental organization and issued a license to operate.

Borai said the dismantling of the Brotherhood would be preceded by a review of the movement’s assets, funding sources and documents. The minister said this would not require any court order.

Officials said security forces have been rounding up the Brotherhood leadership. On Aug. 20, Brotherhood leader, called the general guide, Mohammed Badie, was arrested at home in Cairo. He has been charged with inciting murder and was scheduled to stand trial on Aug. 25.

“Carrying out the decisions of the public prosecutor to arrest and bring
forward the general guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Badie, and
through collected information and observation of movements, it was possible
for the criminal search apparatus under the direction of Cairo’s security
[services] to arrest him,” the Egyptian Interior Ministry said.

  Ahmed Borai, citing ties to terrorism, Egypt moves to dismantle Muslim Brotherhood, Mohammed Badie, Mohammed Morsi