Muslim Brotherhood claimed new Egyptian president is Jewish

Movement's website briefly posted an article claiming Adly Mansour, the judge named Egypt’s interim president, is part of an elaborate conspiracy involving Israel and the U.S.

Interim President Adly Mansour speaking after being sworn in at the constitutional court. Photo by AP

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s website briefly posted an article claiming that the country’s current interim president is Jewish.

The article, which appeared Thursday on IkhwanOnline, has since been taken down; a translation is still available online. It claimed that Adly Mansour, the judge named Egypt’s interim president following the removal of Mohammed Morsi from office by the military, is Jewish.

The article claimed that Mansour is in cahoots with Israel and the United States as part of an elaborate conspiracy.

The report was released while enraged Islamists protested against the toppling of Morsi. Tens of thousands of his supporters took to the streets vowing to win his reinstatement and clashed with their opponents in violence.

Late on Friday an Interior Ministry spokesman said the deputy head of the Muslim Brotherhood, Khairat el-Shater, who is considered the most powerful man in the organization, was arrested.

Spokesman Hani Abdel-Latif said el-Shater and his brother were arrested at an apartment in eastern Cairo on allegations of inciting violence against protesters in recent days.