Six protesters file complaint against Brotherhood presidential candidate

Ahram Online, Monday 23 Apr 2012

Protesters demonstrating against the Muslim Brotherhood's presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsi, claiming that they witnessed the group's leaders order their supporters to attack them

Six protesters have filed a complaint against the Muslim Brotherhood’s presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsi, and the group’s number-two man, Khairat El-Shater, accusing them of inciting violence against them.

Clashes had erupted on Sunday evening in front of the Mansoura Sports Stadium where Morsi, the Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) presidential candidate, was holding a public rally as part of his presidential campaign.

Morsi supporters clashed with protesters chanting against his candidacy in front of the stadium. 

The six protesters pressing charges claim that they witnessed some Brotherhood leaders order supporters to attack them – an accusation the Brotherhood vehemently denies.

Tension plagued Morsi’s campaign throughout his visit in the city of Mansoura on Sunday. In the morning, protesters chanted against Morsi on the Mansoura University campus, where Morsi was expected to address the students. Later in the evening the protesters congregated in front of the stadium where clashes erupted.

The Brotherhood had promised the public in February 2011 that they would not field a candidate for presidential elections but reversed course in March 2012.

They originally presented El-Shater as their presidential candidate, but substituted him with Morsi when the former was eliminated from the race because of a criminal conviction during the Mubarak era.

Egypt’s electoral law does not allow any candidates with previous criminal records to run for the country’s top office.

Ever since it was announced that Morsi will take El-Shater’s spot, he has been touring Egypt to meet with voters. Morsi is expected to hold another rally in Zagazig on Monday and in Alexandria on Tuesday.

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