Egypt Court Jails Morsi Ally Following Prosecution Appeal

An Egyptian court on Thursday accepted an appeal by prosecutors against the release on bail of Abul Ela Madi, head of the moderate-Islamist Wasat Party and a leading member of ousted president Mohamed Morsi's main support bloc.



The court ordered Madi to remain in custody for 45 days pending investigation into incitement-to-violence charges.



Thursday's decision came one day after the court ordered Madi's release on bail set at $1400.



Madi is charged with involvement in the death of 23 people during last July's clashes in Giza's Bein al-Sarayat district, along with illegal weapons possession.



Egyptian authorities have unleashed a massive crackdown on pro-Morsi Islamist groups since August 14 of last year, when security forces violently dispersed two pro-democracy sit-ins, killing hundreds of demonstrators in the process.



Morsi, Egypt's first democratically elected leader, was deposed by the military on July 3 – and later imprisoned – on the back of mass demonstrations against his presidency.



Founded in 1996 by former members of Morsi's embattled Muslim Brotherhood group, the Wasat Party was not officially permitted to operate until after the 2011 uprising that led to the ouster of autocratic president Hosni Mubarak.



By Islam Mosaad



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Kahire