Human Rights Watch has criticised the decision by Egypt’s military-run government to list the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation, slamming the move as “politically driven”.
Stating that the government’s terrorist designation seems intended to end all Muslim Brotherhood activities, Sarah Leah Whitson, the organisation’s Middle East and North Africa director went on to add,
“The government’s decision on the Muslim Brotherhood follows over five months of government efforts to vilify the group”.
“By rushing to point the finger at the Brotherhood without investigations or evidence, the government seems motivated solely by its desire to crush a major opposition movement.”
Noting that over 1,000 pro-Brotherhood supporters had been killed since July, Whitson also stated,
“The government’s assault on the Brotherhood has gone beyond clamping down on peaceful political activities to curtailing desperately needed health services and schools for ordinary Egyptians”.
“There seems to be no end to this wave of oppression.”
“Egyptians can and should debate the sincerity and extent of the Muslim Brotherhood’s commitment to democracy, but the unrelenting repression of the group flouts fundamental human rights and freedoms.”