[JURIST] Egyptian police on Tuesday arrested Muslim Brotherhood [BBC backgrounder; JURIST news archive] spokesperson Gehad al-Haddad [profile] on suspicion of incitement of violence. Al-Haddad has been the primary spokesperson [Guardian report] for the supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] and has become the most recognizable face of the movement in international media. He is the son of Essam el-Haddad, a former adviser to Morsi, who is currently in detention. The Egyptian government has detained numerous Morsi supporters [JURIST report] in an attempt to quell protests that resulted from his ouster in July.

Although Egypt has faced political unrest since the Egyptian Revolution [JURIST backgrounder] began over two years ago, the conflict peaked in July after the Egyptian military deposed president Morsi, suspended the nation’s constitution and installed an interim government. Last week the government extended emergency laws [JURIST report] put in place in mid-August. Earlier in September an Egyptian court ordered the closure [JURIST report] of four media outlets, including an affiliate of Al Jazeera, for their alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Egyptian government reportedly claims [AP report] that Al-Jazeera’s affiliate provided biased news coverage during Brotherhood protests following the removal [JURIST report] of president Morsi in July. Only one day after Morsi’s ouster, Egyptian authorities shut down four Islamist-run television stations [JURIST report], causing concern among groups such as Amnesty International [advocacy website].