The Muslim Brotherhood<\/a> has called for the establishment of a united Egyptian opposition group abroad to help regain control of the country after a military coup in July 2013 put Abdel Fattah el-Sisi<\/a> in power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a statement marking the eighth anniversary of the January 25, 2011 revolution, the outlawed group said the purpose of a unified opposition would be to liberate Egypt<\/a> from military rule and to release political prisoners from prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Muslim Brotherhood – Egypt’s oldest and most influential Islamist group – called on expatriate Egyptian judges to take over the leadership of a constituent body, pointing out that individuals or groups abroad can help the work of the opposition at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the interest of the Egyptian revolution and to protect the opposition, the statement also stressed the need to stay away from those who advocate the use of violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The banned group highlighted articles of the 1923 Constitution relating to individual and public freedoms, particularly the independence of the judiciary. The Muslim Brotherhood was outlawed as a “terrorist group” by the Egyptian government in December 2013, and funds and assets belonging to its members were confiscated. Hundreds of supporters were arrested with many facing the death penalty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Brotherhood refuses to accept Sisi’s government and says it will return to the political arena with popular support. However, Sisi passed a law banning demonstrations<\/a> without prior police approval, stifling the protest movement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Human rights<\/a> defenders, civil society groups and NGO<\/a>s have also been targeted<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Human Rights Watch estimated Egypt has imprisoned as many as 60,000 political activists, a figure Sisi has denied. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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