Brotherhood businessman held in Cairo

Egyptian authorities arrested prominent Muslim Brotherhood businessman Hassan Malek at his house, a report said.

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Cairo - Egyptian authorities arrested prominent Muslim Brotherhood businessman Hassan Malek at his house on Thursday in Cairo, Egyptian television reported online.

The broadcaster said the arrest was made at the request of the public prosecutor but did not specify charges against Malek.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been banned in Egypt as a terrorist organisation.

Egyptian authorities have rounded up thousands of Islamists since the military’s 2013 overthrow of president Mohammed Morsi, a senior Muslim Brotherhood official.

Hundreds of the Islamist group’s members and followers have since been tried and sentenced in the courts.

The Muslim Brotherhood has dismissed the trials as politically motivated, while the Egyptian government insists the country’s judiciary operates independently.

DPA