Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi is Suspected of Ordering the Arrest of Political Opponents Without Substantial Evidence

Cairo’s public prosecutor ordered the arrest of five anti-Islamist political activists Monday on charges of using social media to incite violence against the Muslim Brotherhood.

Prosecutor Talaat Ibrahim ordered the arrests after an attack on the Muslim Brotherhood’s headquarters in Cairo Friday night. Around a thousand opponents of the Islamist group surrounded the headquarters with various weapons, seemingly intent on burning it down. They clashed with Brotherhood supporters before riot police used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Hundreds were injured.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi took to Twitter on Sunday to accuse his political opponents of “providing a political cover for violence”. In a speech later that day, Morsi stated that he was prepared to “impose exceptional measures to restore domestic order”.

Five activists were arrested Monday, but a search of online comments posted via their social media accounts turned up no evidence that they had called for violence. One activist, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, actually argued against violence in online posts, but he did suggest that Morsi’s perceived authoritarianism and alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood could potentially stir violent protest.

Prosecutor Ibrahim is a controversial figure in Egypt. He was personally appointed by Morsi last fall via presidential decree. Egyptian law, however, states that the President cannot under normal circumstances appoint a public prosecutor. Morsi’s critics accuse him of using the post as a political tool.