Egypt posts record EGP629b primary surplus in 2024/25    EGP swings vs. USD in early Sunday trade    EGX launches 1st phone app    Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    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    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.



Islamist leader Essam Derbala arrested on terrorism charges
Derbala remained committed to Anti-Coup Alliance
Published in Daily News Egypt on 13 - 05 - 2015

Police have arrested Essam Derbala, chair of renowned Islamist group Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's Shura Council in Qena governorate Wednesday, following an arrest warrant issued by State Security authorities.
Derbala's house was searched and some documents were taken by the police for examination, while he is set to face interrogations, officials said Wednesday.
Derbala was allegedly on his way to escape to Sudan. He is facing terrorism charges for a series of events at Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square and operations against the army in Al-Arish in North Sinai, state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported.
Derbala's colleague and ally Tarek EL-Zomor reacted to the news by stating that the arrest is an "alarming escalation of events". It is a "miscalculated move from those who claim peace", he wrote on his official Twitter account.
El-Zomor was only released from prison in 2012, where he had been held since a 1984 conviction for his role in the assassination of late president Anwar El-Sadat. He is also the leader of the Islamist Building and Development Party, considered Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya's political arm.
The party, like other Islamist and Muslim Brotherhood affiliated political parties, has faced a crackdown since the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013. Derbala was also involved in the pro-Morsi Anti-Coup Alliance.
The alliance's popularity has been on the decline since 2013, since most of its members have been arrested under the new regime. In addition, political parties withdrew from the alliance in 2014, such as Islamist parties the Al-Watan, Al-Wasat and Istiqlal parties.
The dissidents' commonly-stated argument for withdrawing was "their desire to work outside the alliance's framework", and focusing on restoring "Islamic identity" rather than committing to the alliance. According to most political interpretations, they wished to remain in the political scene and try to re-integrate their parties.
Nonetheless, the leadership under Derbala maintained that the political party was committed to the alliance in its opposition to the state. The Building and Development Party faced lawsuits demanding its dissolution, because it was illegally based on religious grounds.
In 2014, Derbala defended the party by denying any ties between the political entity and Al-Jamaa Al-Islamiya. Derbala added that dissolving and mobilising against Islamist parties, while permitting secular and communist parties, "might be considered by some as a proof that the state is against Islam". The moves will result in the rise of ideological confrontation and Takfiri ideas.
Rabie Shalaby, a member of the Islamist group, stated in an interview in on 4 May that internal dissatisfaction with Derbala's policies had increased to the point of demanding the withdrawal of trust from the leader. The disputes were caused by other members, who argued that it was better for the group to withdraw from the alliance.
Since the removal of Morsi up to today, the alliance continues to call for protests. It has widely endorsed Students Against the Coup (SAC) riots, which often turned extremely violent in 2013 and at the beginning of 2014.
On the other hand, Islamist political parties do not have the same significance they once had under Morsi, with the possible exception of the Al-Nour Salafi Party, which broke its alliance with the Muslim Brotherhood and supported current president Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and the post-30 June state.


Clic here to read the story from its source.