Mohamed Morsi was abducted by Egyptian army, claims his family

Mohamed Morsi’s family has accused the Egyptian army of abducting him.

The ousted president’s daughter Shaimaa Morsi told a news conference in Cairo that the family was taking legal measures against the army.

Mohamed Morsi has been held at an undisclosed location, without charge, since being ousted from power on July 3.

The family said it held the military responsible for the former leader’s “safety and security”.

The statement is the first from Mohamed Morsi’s family since he was deposed from office.

“We are taking local and international legal measures against Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, the leader of the bloody military coup, and his putschist group,” Shaimaa Morsi told reporters.

The family was appealing to the International Criminal Court to launch an investigation into the events leading up to his removal from power, she said.

One of Mohamed Morsi’s sons, Osama, said: “What is going on is a violation of human rights and a scandal in every sense of the word.”

He described the manner in which the military were holding Mohamed Morsi as an “abduction”.

The family had had no contact with the former president since he was ousted, he said.

Mohammed al-Damati, a leading Egyptian lawyer and supporter of Mohamed Morsi, said it was a breach of the former president’s human rights to hold him without charge.

Mohamed Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood movement has refused to recognize the new military-backed administration.

It continues to hold almost daily street protests in Cairo.

Several countries, including the United States, have called for Mohamed Morsi’s release.

But Egypt’s interim authorities insist he is being held in a “safe place”.