White House Condemns Arrest of Muslim Brotherhood Spiritual Leader

The White House on Tuesday condemned the arrest of the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood.

“That is not in line with the standard that we expect other governments to uphold with respect to human rights. It's certainly not the standard the Egyptian people expect of their government in terms of upholding basic human rights," White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters. "So this is just the latest in a series of actions the Egyptian government has taken that doesn't reflect their commitment to an inclusive political process, respect for basic human rights like the right to protest peacefully.”

Mourners attend the funeral of Ammar Badie, the son of the Muslim Brotherhood's Supreme Guide, Mohammed Badie at the Hammad Mosque in the New Cairo district in Cairo, Egypt, on August 18, 2013. Ammar Badie reportedly died of gunshot wounds during the "Day of Rage" protest in Ramses Square in central Cairo on Friday, where supporters of deposed Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi had gathered to protest the deaths of hundreds of pro-Morsi protesters killed during the clear-out of protest camps in Cairo by Egyptian security forces last week. (Getty Images)

Egypt's military-run government arrested the spiritual leader of the Muslim Brotherhood at an apartment in the eastern Cairo district of Nasr City, near the six-week sit-in protest by Mohammed Morsi supporters who want the deposed leader returned to power.

Earnest expressed to reporters that the administration has spoken out forcefully against politically-motivated detentions.

Fielding several questions about U.S. foreign aid to Egypt, Earnest said the matter is under review, but stressed aid is not something that is merely turned on or off.

“It's not a spigot,” Earnest said, said noting that funding to Egypt comes episodically.

“Our aid continues to be under review and to suggest that that aid has been cut off is inaccurate,” he said.

Morsi has also been detained in an undisclosed location since the July popular uprising that pushed him from office a year after he was elected.

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