Egypt eliminates Muslim Brotherhood leaders' names from streets
Many streets and squares in Egypt carry the names of Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members — but for not much longer.
The Egyptian government has started a campaign to remove the street name signs that carry the names of leaders and prominent members of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that was designated as a terrorist organization following the ousting of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013.
On Oct. 21, Minya Gov. Qassem Hussein changed the name of a street in the governorate from Hassan al-Banna, the founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, to Umar Ibn al-Khattab, one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad.
Hussein signaled that every name of a street and square across the governorate would be subject to review. “Streets that carry the names of Muslim Brotherhood members will be changed and named after fallen soldiers as well as historical and public figures who have had a positive impact on society,” he said.
Lawyer Ayman Mahfouz filed a complaint Oct. 23 with Public Prosecutor Nabil Sadek, saying that there are tens — if not hundreds — of streets named after leaders and members of the Muslim Brotherhood in Cairo and other governorates.
