A number of Muslim Brotherhood figures have rushed to the defense of members of the groups Shura Council who have been accused of embezzlement, describing the accusations as false fabrications. The Council, whose members reside in Turkey, issued a statement saying a group of its members had been wrongly accused of embezzlement and called upon the group’s institutions to take suitable measures that could prevent the recurrence of such an event. Last week, Council member Amir Bassam, in a leaked audio circulated online, accused a number of leaders of embezzling the group’s funds. He added that recent leaks show the extent of financial misappropriations among the organizations leaders abroad. Bassam accused Shura members of purchasing “real estate and luxury cars” with the group’s money. Egypt’s Dar al-Ifta considered the statement a confirmation of the Brotherhood’s false claims of “working for the interest of the religion.” In a statement responding to Bassam’s accusations, the Brotherhood’s Shura Council renewed its confidence in the group’s members and leadership. According to the statement, the group has formed a committee of Shura members to study all the allegations and fabrications and issue a verdict. The Council, which manages the Brotherhood’s international affairs, accused Bassam of making baseless accusations that lack credibility. It also urged members to corroborate accounts before presenting them as facts.  In recent months, differences between the organizations leaders abroad and young members have grown following a series of deportations of Muslim Brotherhood youth from Turkey and Malaysia to Egypt. The young members have launched online campaigns against the expulsions. In December, Clarion Project reported that the Muslim Brotherhood is trying to raise funds in a number of European countries claiming they support youth. The Project warned that the organization has been working on employing some of its cells there, in order to recruit refugees in Europe.