Brotherhood announces interim supreme guide
The Muslim Brotherhood has announced the appointment of Mahmoud Ezzat as the group's interim supreme guide following the arrest of Mohamed Badie late Monday evening, the Freedom and Justice portal reported on Tuesday.
Ezzat's appointment follows the bylaws of the Brotherhood, which stipulates that if the supreme guide is unable to pursue his job for any reason, his deputy assumes his responsibilities.
Badie was arrested in a house in Nasr City, according to media reports.
Born in 1944, Ezzat has been a Brotherhood member since his years as a medical student and has risen up the ranks to gain a place among its top leadership. He has served as its secretary general, and is a member of its Guidance Bureau.
His membership sent him to jail for the first time in 1965, where he spent 10 years. After his release, he was further involved in both student and preaching work for the Brotherhood. Upon his return after years of study abroad, he joined the Brotherhood's Guidance Bureau in 1981. He spent another five years in prison between 1995 and 2000 for his membership of the Guidance Bureau. He was arrested again in 2008.
According to the late Islamist scholar Hossam Tammam, Ezzat, like Badie, is considered to be one of Brotherhood's Qutb followers, the group's hawkish wing, which has become more powerful in the last few years.
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