Court orders drafting legal opinion for lawsuit against Helbawi

CAIRO – 20 June 2018: Cairo Administrative Court has ordered drafting a legal opinion for the lawsuit issued against Kamal al-Helbawi, a member of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), who called for reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood group.
The lawsuit calls for the dismissal of Helbawi from the NCHR.

On April 28, Helbawi, former spokesperson of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, made a TV appearance on the Turkish-based, MB-affiliated television channel, Mekameleen, during which he called for a reconciliation initiative with the Brotherhood.

Helbawi contacted the channel via Skype from London and announced his initiative, which would commence by forming a council of Arab and Egyptian experts and renowned figures.

Only a few days later, Egyptian lawyer Samir Sabry filed a lawsuit to Attorney General Nabil Sadek to include Helbawi on the terror list.

According to the lawsuit, Helbawi has supported the MB group since it was established by late Hassan al-Banna and until the group has announced nominating a presidential candidate for the 2012 election. Helbawi objected to the group’s decision because running for political posts has nothing to do with the MB ideology, and therefore he announced splitting from the group.

Sabry said that, over the last few days, Helbawi has demanded that the Egyptian government reconcile with the Muslim Brotherhood and described members of the MB, especially Banna, as the greatest personalities in the 20th century.

Helbawi, who is based in London, revealed that the youth of the April 6 Movement coordinated with him to support the initiative, according to the lawsuit.
Criticizing the initiative, Parliament member Mohamed al-Komi told Egypt Today that any initiative that would suggest reconciliation with the brotherhood would be accused of betrayal to Egypt and its people.

He added that the outlawed group committed crimes against Egypt’s people, institutions and authorities.

For his part, MP Abdullah Lashin said Helbawi’s initiative is rather suspicious and illegal; he clarified that reconciliation with the Muslim Brotherhood would violate the law, which named the brotherhood a terrorist organization. Lashin also called for immediate interrogation for Helbawi.