Egypt confiscates assets of 46 Muslim Brotherhood members

An Egyptian government committee has ordered the confiscation of assets of 46 members and supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The government committee, which is affiliated with the Justice Ministry, says the confiscated assets include five companies involved in trade, construction, and pharmaceuticals.

It says Mohammed Abdel-Gawad, a former head of the pharmacists' assembly under the Brotherhood's rule of Egypt, is among those affected by Monday's order.

Over the past three years, Egypt has confiscated assets of scores of Brotherhood members and seized their businesses, including schools, hospitals, and companies. Thousands of Brotherhood figures are also jailed or imprisoned.

The Muslim Brotherhood was once Egypt's largest opposition group and still enjoys a huge public support. However, the government of current president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi outlawed the movement when the former army chief took power more than two years ago. Thousands of Brotherhood members and supporters have been jailed while key figures have been sentenced to death or life in prison.

On Sunday, Brotherhood officials rejected claims by some members that the movement was ready for reconciliation with Sisi.

In a statement, the group said it could not compromise on “the rights of the martyrs and injured, the detainees’ right to freedom and the people’s right to honorable life.”

It added that the Muslim Brotherhood will never give up legitimacy -- in reference to Morsi as the first democratically-elected president of Egypt.