CAIRO: The Cabinet’s decree announcing the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization will only be effective internally, unless other countries adopt it according to international treaties, according to Adel Maged, Vice President of the Court of Cassation.
This decree will only have an effect internally, whereas Egypt wants Arab countries to adhere to Arab and International agreements, such as the Arab Convention Against Terrorism in 1998, which obligates Arab countries to cooperate with Egypt and hand over any criminals who live there, Maged said in an interview with Youm7.
However, this agreement has several loopholes in its articles, said the Vice President of the Court of Cassation, and Arab expert in the field of international criminal law and transitional justice.
The agreement was amended in 2006 to include people who incite terrorism. The Egyptian penal code also includes articles that allow tracking down criminals outside the country and entitles Egypt to turn to the Security Council if any country does not cooperate with Egypt in fighting terrorism, added Maged.
Regarding the decree declaring the Brotherhood a terrorist organization on a national and international basis, Adel said that it will be more effective on the national basis. With regards to the criminalization of forming any authorities, organizations, bodies or groups that aim in any way to obstruct the constitution, the law, or to prevent state bodies from doing their work, or assault citizens or infringe upon their freedom, Maged said that penalties for such crimes will be execution or hard labor for life.
On the international basis, this decree will have no effect until there are judicial decrees, he stated. Also, Egypt must depend on regional and international counter-terrorism agreements, as eliminating terrorism depends on eliminating its funds, especially as “what Egypt is facing is terrorism on an international level.”
