Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Gama'a Islamiyaa thanks Morsy for pardons
Published in Daily News Egypt on 01 - 08 - 2012

Gama'a Islamiyaa has released a statement thanking President Mohamed Morsy for the release of 12 of their members from prison Saturday night. The members of the Islamic group are just some of 572 prisoners who have been granted clemency by the president in honour of the holy month of Ramadan in response to the claim that many of their trials were unjust.
The statement also said that two or three members of Egyptian Islamic Jihad were released on Saturday.
Dr Amr Bakr, a researcher in the affairs of Islamic movements at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, said that information has been leaked that the release was decided before the presidential election as part of a deal to ensure support from groups affiliated with those in prison.
However, Bakr pointed out that, “Many of the people on the street do not recognise these names because they have been in prison for so long."
Hassan Khalifa, who captured the media attention when he was sentenced to death after being paralysed by security forces after alleged terrorist activity in Assyut, is amongst those being released from prison, according to Bakr.
The staff at No Military Trials is in the process of comparing lists of prisoners with the list of names slated for pardon.
However, no other information accompanies the pardoned names, so numerous organisations are scrambling to discover the identities of those granted clemency.
Some web sources have offered lists of names of prisoners who belonged to Egyptian Islamic Jihad and Gama'a Islamayya, however, the Daily News Egypt is unable to confirm if these are the individuals who were in fact freed.
Egyptian Islamic Jihad and Gama'a Islamiyya were two of the driving forces behind the plot and execution of then president
Anwar Sadat's assassination. The groups also carried out other attacks on the Egyptian state and symbols of the west in an effort to create an Islamic State in Egypt.
Egyptian Islamic Jihad has been largely absent from the domestic scene due to a comprehensive crackdown in the 1990s and the migration of many of their members to fight overseas. According to the US Council on Foreign Relations, Egyptian Islamic Jihad has mostly been merged into Al-Qaeda, including former leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri who has led Al-Qaeda since Osama bin-Laden was killed.
Gama'a Islamiyaa renounced violence in 2003 and was rewarded with the release of imprisoned members by the Mubarak government. The group has gone on to form a political party called the Building and Development Party. While still listed as a “foreign terrorist organisation" by the US State Department, Gama'a Islamiyaa's political party won 13 seats in last year's elections, mostly in Upper Egypt. They also have one seat in the Constituent Assembly.


Clic here to read the story from its source.