MPs to request releasing Football Ultras members

CAIRO – 10 October 2017: The Human Rights Committee is studying to submit a request to the parliament’s speaker to pardon detained Ultras members, or those who are currently serving prison terms, Member of Parliament (MP) Ahmed Ibrahim told Egypt Today Tuesday.

“While their main problems revolve around their passion for football and the anger they deeply harbored for not knowing who the actual killers of their friends and loved ones are, they have to be embraced and not punished,” Ibrahim said.

Ibrahim added that the request comes amid the festive atmosphere prevailing in the country nowadays, as the Egyptian National Team managed to qualify to the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He also added those who have sabotaged or committed violence-related charges with solid evidence proving thus, have to be legally held accountable.

In September, Cairo Criminal Court sentenced three Zamalek Ultras members to 10 years in prison, five others to seven years, and Ultras leader Sayed Moshaghib to a life imprisonment. The Ultras were sentenced over charges related to violent clashes that took place prior to Zamalek’s and Enppi’s Premier League match in February 2015, which led to the death of 22 Zamalek fans.

The Parliament’s Presidential Committee previously announced that a presidential amnesty will be granted to young inmates who are to be found eligible of the pardon. The pardon will be effective on the occasion of the seventh anniversary of the January 25 Revolution.