Egypt: Morsi’s family threatens legal action against military

CAIRO — The family of ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi threatened legal action against the Egyptian military Monday for holding him following his removal from office July 3.

“We will take all legal procedures, locally and internationally, against [Defense Minister] Abdel Fattah Sisi, who abducted President Mohamed Morsi,” said Osama Morsi, the deposed president’s son, at a news conference with other family members.

The family said it would consider asking the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into Morsi’s disappearance.

Morsi has made no appearances and has had no contact with a lawyer or family member since he was removed from office after mass protests began June 30. At the news conference, his family called Morsi’s detention a “violation of democracy” and “a crime of kidnapping.”

Although he has not been formally charged, various lawsuits have been brought against Morsi since he was ousted, accusing him of instigating violence against peaceful protesters during his year in office and conspiring with Palestinian officials from Hamas to break prisons open during January 2011 protests.

Prosecutors have said they are investigating the charges.

“I bet that the general prosecution does not know where Morsi is being held to begin with,” Osama Morsi said.

Government officials have repeatedly said that the former president is in good health and is not being harmed. Still, the leadership of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and even some of his opponents have criticized his detention, fearing it signals a return to practices that were common during the dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak.

The Rebel movement, which was the driving force behind the June 30 protests that led to Morsi’s downfall, announced it would take part in mass demonstrations next Friday to demand a fair trial for the ousted leader.

One person was killed and at least 23 were injured Monday when pro and anti-Morsi demonstrators clashed near Cairo’s Tahrir Square. Soldiers and police fired tear gas to break up the fighting as both camps hurled stones and fired weapons at one another. The violence erupted after pro-Morsi supporters marched toward the nearby U.S. Embassy to demand that the Egyptian military release the former president.

Two people were reported killed in similar clashes north of Cairo.

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