Egypt expresses 'deep dissatisfaction' to Netherlands over embassy attack    Global pressure mounts as Gaza fighting intensifies and death toll surges    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    At TICAD, Egypt's education minister signs pacts with Casio, SAPIX    Egypt holds special importance for our investments across diverse sectors: Japanese minister    Cairo, Tokyo sign LOI to expand educational cooperation, support for persons with disabilities    Madbouly invites Japanese firms to establish industrial zone in SCZONE    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Al-Sisi meets Qatar PM, Bahrain security adviser to discuss Gaza crisis, regional stability    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    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.



Egypt Islamist group denies uniting with Al-Qaeda
Published in Daily News Egypt on 08 - 08 - 2006


Reuters
CAIRO: One of Egypt s most prominent Islamist groups, which waged a bloody campaign in the 1990s, denied on Sunday it had made any alliance with the global Al-Qaeda militant network led by Osama bin Laden.
Meanwhile, a former official in Egypt s Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya said that even if some members had joined Al-Qaeda, as Al-Qaeda deputy head Ayman Al-Zawahri said in a video aired on Al-Jazeera television on Saturday, it was unlikely that most would do so.
Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya in Egypt stresses the lack of truth in what Al-Jazeera aired by Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahri about it joining Al-Qaeda, and categorically denies this, the organization said in a statement on its website, www.egyptianislamicgroup.com.
The Gamaa (group) fought a bloody campaign against the government in the 1990s to set up a purist Islamic state before ultimately declaring a truce in 1997.
Former Gamaa leader Sheikh Abdel Akher Hammad told Al-Jazeera on Sunday from Germany: If [some] brothers ... have joined, then this is their personal view and I don t think that most Gamaa Islamiya members share that same opinion.
Egypt analysts have downplayed Al-Zawahri s announcement that a big faction of the Gamaa had switched over, saying there was no evidence al Qaeda had major support within the Gamaa ranks.
In the video, Al-Zawahri named Mohamed Al-Islambouli as one of those who joined al Qaeda, referring to the Gamaa leader whose brother Khaled killed Egyptian President Anwar El-Sadat in 1981.
A man introduced by Al-Zawahri as another Gamaa leader, Mohamed Hakaima, later appeared in the video to confirm the unity move. But several analysts said he was not a major player.
I think he doesn t represent anybody here in the country, said Diaa Rashwan, an expert on Islamist groups at the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies, describing Hakaima as a low-ranking member of the group.
Egypt detained many thousands of Gamaa members or sympathizers in the 1990s when the group was waging a low-level guerrilla war against security forces, mainly in the south.
But hundreds have since come out of detention after renouncing violence. Gamaa leaders declared a truce after a deadly 1997 attack on tourists at a pharaonic temple in Luxor.
It is not right to say that leaders of Al-Gamaa Al-Islamiya are joining Al-Qaeda. This is not precise. Maybe we can say it is some individuals, London-based activist Yasser Sirri said.
The specter of militancy has recently returned to Egypt with a string of three deadly attacks targeting Red Sea resort areas in the Sinai Peninsula over the past two years, attacks that Egypt has blamed on Sinai-based militants.
The Gamaa has not been implicated in those bombings, and analysts said they did not expect any change in their policy after the Al-Qaeda announcement, saying the Gamaa leadership had clearly chosen to avoid violence in Egypt.
Islamic political groups in Egypt say they want Islamic Sharia law but differ on ways of bringing it about. They also oppose the United States over support for Israel.
I think [the Gamaa] are still under control, said Hala Mustafa, editor of Al-Ahram Quarterly Democracy Review.
There was a kind of political deal between the regime and these groups for not attacking or targeting any internal targets or local figures. That continues today. I am not sure the Gamaa or the regime will drop this deal, she said.


Clic here to read the story from its source.