An Egyptian protester looks at the damaged Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in the Mokattam district in eastern Cairo, Egypt, Monday, 1 July 2013. (Photo: Reuters)
Egypt's minister of social solidarity, Ahmed El-Borai, said on Tuesday that the Muslim Brotherhood association, formed in March 2013 by the political group, has no legal standing.
The minister said during a press conference on Tuesday that the prosecution had accused the Brotherhood of possessing firearms at its Cairo headquarters.
The ministry, which is responsible for registering non-governmental organisations and associations, sent several letters to the chairman of the Brotherhood NGO requesting explanations but has not received an answer.
"I know there is tension in the Egyptian street and people are attacking me for not taking an order to disband the Muslim Brotherhood association," said El-Borai, who added that the ministry needed a memo from the federation of NGOs in order to disband the association.
"We need to follow the legal path," he said.
El-Borai had previously said that disbanding the Brotherhood association without a court ruling would support allegations by western countries that the current regime in Egypt wants to liquidate the Muslim Brotherhood.
On Monday the board of state commissioners recommended to the Administrative Court that it issue a ruling terminating the Muslim Brotherhood association.
"The Muslim Brotherhood association was not registered as a NGO to do its role in accordance with the law and to serve the nation. It only helped the regime and its ruling party to keep the president in his position," read the report issued by the board.
The founding of the association in March caused controversy, coming shortly after the state commissioners' board recommended to the Administrative Court that it reject the Brotherhood's longstanding appeal against a 1954 decision declaring the group illegal and ordering its dissolution.
Some analysts argued then that the organisation breaches law 84/2002 which forbids NGOs from taking part in political activities.
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