6 terrorists arrested at Aboul Fotouh farm jailed for 15 days

CAIRO - 22 February 2018: Six defendants were ordered to be imprisoned for fifteen days as per investigations on Thursday morning by Egypt’s Supreme Prosecution. They were arrested on Wednesday, February 21, on the farm of Muslim Brotherhood (MB) dissident and former presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Aboul Fotouh in the Beheira governorate.

The prosecution accused the six defendants of being members of terrorist groups which aim to destabilize the country’s security, constitution and law. The accusations also included attempting to toppling the current regime along with endangering Egyptian society.

All of the six ‘terrorist elements’ as identified in the interior ministry’s statement issued on Wednesday has in their possession (when arrested) three rifles. It was added that Aboul Fotouh knew that these wanted elements were hiding on his farm, and that he gave direct orders to a number of his assistants not to expel them.

On Tuesday, February 20, the Cairo Criminal Court ruled to place Aboul Fotouh along with 15 others on terrorist-linked watchlist.

Aboul Fotouh was arrested last week on six charges, including incitement of violence. He has been ordered to be detained for 15 days following an investigation by the National Security prosecution.

The list of charges included, “inciting violence against the state and the constitution, call for a boycott of the upcoming Presidential elections in March, being a member of a law-labeled terrorist group and communicating with fugitives, destabilizing Egypt’s stability and security aiming to topple the current regime, calling for chaos and spreading rumors and finally hindering the state’s organizations from practicing their role regarding stabilizing and securing the country.”

On February 12, an Egyptian lawyer submitted an official complaint to the public prosecutor, calling for the arrest of Aboul Fotouh, after he appeared on an Al-Jazeera television show from London. Lawyer Samir Sabry accused Aboul Fotouh of “spreading fake news” and demeaning Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi.

On Tuesday, January 28, five political figures released a joint statement calling for Egyptians to boycott the process because the elections will not be fair.

The figures include Aboul Fotouh; former parliament member and chairman of the Reform and Development Party Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat; former science consultant for the presidency Essam Heggy; former chairman of the Central Auditing Authority Hisham Genena; and political science professor Hazem Hosni.

The five political personnel expressed in the statement their discontent with alleged security and administrative practices undertaken to inhibit competition in the upcoming election. However, they did not mention any details about the allegations.