Egypt’s Court of Cassation has overturned the inclusion of former football star Mohamed Aboutrika and more than 1,500 other people on “terrorist” lists drawn up for their alleged links with the banned Muslim Brotherhood, a lawyer said on Saturday.
“The Court of Cassation heard our pleadings and overturned the judgment concerning the listing of our clients as terrorists,” human rights lawyer Khaled Ali told AFP.
He added that “the decision of the criminal court is annulled and a new chamber will be appointed to re-examine the case”.
In January 2017, a Cairo criminal court decided to put the name of the player, a double African champion with Egypt in 2006 and 2008 and named African player of the year on four occasions, on the lists of “terrorists”, accusing him of financing the Muslim Brotherhood, classified at the end of 2013 as a “terrorist organization” in Egypt.
In 2021, the Court of Cassation had confirmed the two-year extension of the inclusion of 1,529 people on these lists, including. Aboutrika and Muslim Brotherhood leaders and their children.
Under the anti-terrorism law passed in 2015, anyone suspected of “terrorism” is banned from leaving the country, has their passport withdrawn and their assets frozen.
Still very popular in his country, Mohamed Aboutrika, 45, is currently in Qatar, commenting on football matches on TV.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.