The Week in Egypt – April 14, 2014

Catch up on the latest out of Egypt every week, with analysis, news updates, photos, videos, and more.
Quote of the Week

“If the Egyptian government is serious about organizing free and fair presidential elections, it must end this campaign against the press and release all journalists in jail . . .  You cannot have a free election without a free press and independent news coverage.” –Sherif Mansour,  Middle East and North Africa program coordinator, Committee to Protect Journalists

Egypt in the News

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On EgyptSource

In-depth

Will the UK list the Muslim Brotherhood as a Terror Group? | H.A. Hellyer, al-Monitor

“It was not only Brotherhood-style Islamists who came. Far more radical Islamists did as well, later on. The likes of radical clerics Abu Qatada, Abu Hamza al-Masri, Omar Bakri Muhammad and others made their homes in London, much to the consternation of other European governments. The French in particular were furious that such radicals could live freely in London, while their British counterparts essentially argued that as long as such extremists did not break British law on British soil, they were free to remain. These more radical Islamists interpreted this as a “covenant of security” — the UK would be considered off limits from attacks from their ilk.”

“How will that all play out into Downing Street’s review of the Brotherhood? It is deeply unlikely for at least the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood to be characterized by the British government as a terrorist organization. The group can be accused of sectarianism, discourse that borders on — or even counts as — incitement and even certain types of vigilante force, particularly during Morsi’s era, but any terrorism designation would require direct evidence of actual terrorist activity. The designation would have to stand up in a British court, as the Brotherhood would undoubtedly legally challenge any such designation. Unless there is a plethora of evidence that no one has yet seen, the Brothers would almost certainly win.
What, then, is the point of the review? It could turn out to be a somewhat wily, but essentially empty political move. In announcing the review, Downing Street is mollifying the Saudis and others in the Arab world who are deeply opposed to the Brotherhood, but without actually giving them very much. More right-wing members of the British political establishment will also be pleased to see the group further stigmatized. The review’s results are due in July, and it is entirely possible that they will be issued just before the end of this parliamentary session and the summer holidays in the Arab world. In other words, the inquiry could simply die a quiet death.”

Photo of the Week

Alaa Abdel Fattah takes part in a marathon on Sunday April 13, one of several events planned by the Revolutionary Front as part of a campaign against Egypt’s protest law.

Cartoon of the Week

Student demonstrations have dominated university campuses this year and they have become increasingly violent as students and security forces clash.

20140414Cartoon

[Source: AMAY]

On Twitter: Court Upholds Verdict against Activists

The Cairo Misdemeanor Court of Appeals upheld on Monday a three-year sentence and EGP 50,000 fines against activists Ahmed Maher, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Douma, rejecting their appeal. They were convicted for protesting without the Ministry of Interior’s approval under the controversial Protest Law, rioting, “thuggery”, using violence against Abdeen Courthouse security personnel and possessing melee weapons.

North Africa