Morsi detained for another 15 days

Deposed President Mohamed Morsi’s detention was renewed for another 15 days Monday pending investigations into charges of espionage, reported the state-owned daily newspaper Al-Ahram.

Morsi is accused of spying for the Gaza Strip’s Hamas government to aid them in carrying out violent attacks in Egypt, targeting police officers and Ministry of Interior facilities, including the premeditated kidnapping and murder of policemen. The former president also faces charges of storming and destroying local prisons and liberating prisoners, particularly in Wadi al-Natrun Prison.

In June, the Ismailia Misdemeanor Court sent the Wadi al-Natrun Prison case to the public prosecutor for further investigations after the Lebanese Hezbollah and the Palestinian Hamas parties were allegedly implicated in the escape of their members from jail in 2011. 

Morsi’s detention has been subject of virulent controversy since his ouster on July 3. Since then, he has been detained in an unknown Armed Forces facility despite calls by various international players to disclose his whereabouts.

Since Morsi’s removal from office, several senior Muslim Brotherhood members have been arrested and detained on charges of inciting violence.

Human rights lawyer Nasser Amin told the privately-owned Al-Masry Al-Youm newspaper that Morsi and his aides do not know where they are being detained.

Since his arrest, Morsi has only met with Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign policy chief. She said she she engaged in a deep conversation with the deposed president late last month.