The former Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mahdi Akef is facing criminal charges for allegedly offending the sensibilities of the Egyptian judiciary after he called them corrupt.

The former Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood Mahdi Akef is facing criminal charges for allegedly offending the sensibilities of the Egyptian judiciary after he called them corrupt. He is also facing charges over the killing of protesters.

Akef was referred to Cairo Criminal Court Saturday on charges of insulting the judicial authority after he said that Egyptian judges were corrupt.

Judge Tharwat Hammad, delegated from the Ministry of Justice to investigate cases of insulting judicial authorities and offending its members, issued the order.

At the beginning of the investigation, Akef denied such accusations. However, he later said that he was speaking to a group of youths who obtained a bachelor's degree from the Faculty of Media, and was surprised when a Kuwaiti newspaper published it.

He pointed out that the newspaper did not get his permission before publishing his words, stressing that he respects the Egyptian judiciary.

The former Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammad Mursi was arrested in July. He is currently detained and also faces charges of inciting the killing of protesters in front of the Muslim Brotherhood's headquarters in the Cairo suburb of Moqattam during the events of 30 June.

Around 2,000 members of the Brotherhood and other Islamist groups are also being held in prison pending investigation on a variety of accusations, mostly involving inciting violence.