CAIRO, Egypt — Egypt’s ousted President Mohammed Morsi says protests by his supporters and the violent crackdown against them are “useless” in a recording of a private conversation with one of his lawyers that was leaked by security authorities eager to show the Islamist leader in a less defiant posture.
Morsi also asked his lawyer, Mohammed Salim el-Awah, for money to be deposited in his prison account for living expenses since he is not allowed visits by friends and family, according to excerpts of the recording published in the privately owned Al-Watan newspaper.
Another member of Morsi’s defence team, Mohammed el-Damati, denounced the recording, calling it a violation of privacy and the Islamist leader’s constitutional rights, and threatened to file a lawsuit.
Morsi was ousted by the military on July 3 following repeated demonstrations calling on him to leave office. He is now held at a high security prison near the Mediterranean city of Alexandria. His incarceration there followed four months of detention at an undisclosed location.
The leaked conversation reportedly took place on the sidelines of Morsi’s trial earlier this month as he faced charges of inciting the murder of protesters during his year in power.
Two security officials told The Associated Press the recording was released to show the public that Morsi knows protests will not bring him back to power.
The two spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to discuss the issue publicly.
Demonstrations led by the Muslim Brotherhood calling for Morsi’s reinstatement have frequently led to violent clashes between his supporters and security forces.
While the protests have waned as hundreds have been killed and thousands of Brotherhood leaders and supporters detained, violence has been on the rise, with an increasing number of suicide bombings, drive-by shootings, and assassinations targeting mainly security forces.
An Islamic militant group, Ansar Beit al-Maqdis — Champions of Jerusalem in Arabic — has claimed responsibility for many of the attacks. But the Egyptian government accuses the Muslim Brotherhood of orchestrating a campaign of violence and branded it a terrorist organization. The group denies the allegations.
In the recording, made during the week of Feb. 1-5, Morsi asks his lawyer what is happening on the streets. The lawyer tells him that protests and clashes continue but are not productive and negotiations should be held.
“This is all without a result,” el-Awah said. “People must sit and talk and find a solution.”