Egypt court puts government critic on terror list

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi. Egypt has put a prominent politician critical of Sisi on terrorism list. FILE PHOTO | DOMINICK REUTER | AFP

What you need to know:

  • Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh is accused of joining an illegally formed group and spreading false news in Egypt that could harm its interests.

CAIRO

An Egyptian court put a leading government critic and 15 others on terror lists at the request of the public prosecutor, a judicial official said.

Abdel Moneim Abul Fotouh, who is accused of joining an illegally formed group and spreading false news in Egypt that could harm its interests, is to remain on the list for five years, the official said Tuesday.

He was arrested on Wednesday after joining a call to boycott next month's presidential election, which incumbent Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi is expected win easily after most rivals were sidelined or withdrew.

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The identity of the 15 others put on the terror lists were unknown.

On Thursday, prosecutors ordered Abul Fotouh be remanded for 15 days over alleged links to exiled members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood.

The interior ministry accused Abul Fotouh, a former leading member of the Brotherhood and candidate in the 2012 presidential election, of having been in contact with the group's members in exile "to sow trouble and instability".

Abul Fotouh was detained shortly after he arrived from London where he gave interviews in which he was critical of the Egyptian government.

Sisi was elected in 2014, a year after the former army chief ousted his Islamist predecessor Mohamed Morsi.

Abul Fotouh had supported mass protests against the Islamist that prompted the military to topple him.

He has since been critical of Sisi who has been accused of clamping down on dissent.