Rabat- In a significant ruling on May 18, Egypt’s Court of Cassation overturned previous criminal court orders designating 1,500 individuals, including renowned football player Mohamed Abou Treika, as terrorists.
The court also revoked the five-year extension of the terrorist listing for the group, which was granted by a criminal court in April 2023 upon prosecutors’ request.
The decision follows appeals by lawyers representing the defendants against the five-year extension ruling.
The Court of Cassation accepted the appeals and remanded the cases to another criminal court circuit for further review. Should the new circuit rule in favor of the defendants, their names will be removed from the terrorist list. The court’s decision will not impact other cases leading to their initial listing.
Mohamed Abou Treika, a retired professional footballer renowned for his role as an attacking midfielder and forward, was among those designated as a terrorist in 2017.
He enjoyed a highly successful career, securing African Cup of Nations victories with the Egyptian national team in 2006 and 2008, and contributing to Al Ahly’s triumphs in numerous domestic and continental competitions. Since 2014, Abou Treika has been employed as a sports analyst for BeinSports in Qatar.
The Court of Cassation’s decision to overturn the terrorist designations marks a significant development in the ongoing legal dispute surrounding the contentious Law on Terrorist Organizations and Terrorists Lists.
Criticized for its broad definition of terrorism and lack of due process, the law allows individuals to be placed on the list without a criminal conviction or the opportunity to challenge the evidence against them.
This ruling underscores the importance of upholding the rule of law and safeguarding individuals’ rights, even in cases involving national security concerns.
The outcome of the new criminal court circuit’s deliberations on the cases and the potential removal of defendants from the terrorist list remain to be seen.
