On Saturday, Egypt's Court of Cassation overturned a judicial decision that placed former football star Mohamed Aboutrika and over 1,500 others on terrorism lists. Prominent human rights lawyer Khaled Ali announced on Saturday that the court will re-examine their cases.
"Today, the Court of Cassation heard our pleadings and ruled to annul the criminal court's decision to list them as terrorists," Ali told Agence France-Presse. "This effectively renders the criminal court's ruling void and a new panel will be designated to review the case."
In January 2017, a Cairo criminal court had listed Aboutrika on terrorism lists, accusing him of financing the banned Muslim Brotherhood, which is classified as a terrorist organization. In 2021, the Court of Cassation upheld the extension of the terrorism designation for 1,529 individuals, including Aboutrika, leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, and their relatives, for five years starting from the criminal court's decision in 2018.
Under a law enacted by Egyptian authorities in 2015, individuals designated as terrorists face several penalties, including being placed on travel watchlists, having their passports confiscated, and having their financial assets frozen.
Mohamed Aboutrika is one of Egypt’s most celebrated football players, renowned for his achievements with the national team and his club, Al Ahly. His inclusion on the terrorism list had sparked significant controversy and debate both within Egypt and internationally.
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