Muslim Brotherhood candidates may face ban in June election

It is expected that Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak will try to prevent up to 20 Muslim Brotherhood candidates from running for seats in the upper house of parliament in June, Reuters reported today.

Egyptian authorities, under the leadership of Mubarak, may use a set of disputed consitituional amendments passed last month as justification for banning or arresting Islamist candidates. Despite this prospect, Brotherhood candidates are still determined to campaign under the slogan “Islam is the solution” – which they argue conforms to an Egyptian constitution that lists Islam as the state religion.

In a telephone interview with Reuters, Mohamed Habib, the Brotherhood’s deputy leader, said: “Despite the restrictions, we are going forward with determination and steadfastness in our pursuit of reform, and the arrests will not stop us.”

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