Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood becomes NGO

Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Organization (Ihvan) has gained a "legitimate" status after being legally registered as a non-governmental organization (NGO). Abdel-Moneim Abdel-Maksoud, a lawyer for the Islamist group, on Wednesday said, "The Brotherhood has gained a legitimate status as of 2013 according to the NGO law in effect under the name of 'Muslim Brotherhood Association'." The legal expert of the Organization Mukhtar al-Usri stated that the Muslim Brotherhood Organization was an association with its cultural and social activities. Stating that the Muslim Brotherhood Organization was a legal entity in law as well, Usri said that the founders' committee of the association was established but the executive board and the chairman were not elected yet. The Supreme Administrative Court is currently considering a lawsuit against the Brotherhood that calls for the group's dissolution based on the argument that the organisation lacks official legal status. A verdict in the case is expected on March 26.