Court to decide on appeal of MB members on terror list

CAIRO –26 May 2018: The Court of Cassation is expected to issue its verdict Saturday on the appeal submitted by 21 Muslim Brotherhood members that challenged the Criminal Court’s earlier verdict to place them on the terror list for three years.

Prominent MB leader and businessman Hassan Malek is amongst the defendants that were accused of hurting the Egyptian economy by smuggling foreign currencies and financially supporting terrorist groups.

In 2015, the attorney-general had referred Malek and other defendants to the Emergency Court after he was arrested by security forces. Several members of Malek’s family were also added to the terror list that was endorsed by the Cairo Criminal Court in December 2017.

The defendant was born into a Muslim Brotherhood family, but he does not view himself as a leader in the Islamist group, according to his interrogation by the prosecution. However, in 2006, he was sentenced to seven years in prison for being a leader in the group, which organized a militant-style demonstration at Al-Azhar University at the time.

He was pardoned in March 2011 by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces, along with famous Brotherhood leader and businessman Khairat al-Shater.

The businessman’s work has been versatile, but mainly revolved around manufacturing/selling conservative attire for women, as well as computers. He is also a business partner of Shater, who intended to run for president in 2012 but was legally excluded due to his 2006 conviction.

Egypt designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group in 2014.

Additional reporting by Hanan Fayed