World

‘Paying Off a Political Debt’: Egyptian President Frees Radical Islamists Accused of Killing Police Officers During Mubarak-Era

Mohammed Morsi

Mohamed Morsi (AP)

With fears still fresh that Egypt may become a radical Islamic state, Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi released a group of radical Islamists who were imprisoned for militancy during Hosni Mubarak’s 30-year rule, Reuters reports.

A total of 17 Islamists, through their attorney, say a pardon from Morsi resulted in their release from prison. Many of them had been imprisoned since the 1990s and at least three had been condemned to death, according to the lawyer, Ibrahim Ali. The 17 men released in the last few days include members of the radical Islamic group, al-Gama’a al-Islamiya, two of which are accused of killing a police officer and a third accused of killing another police officer in a separate incident.

Reuters could not reach a presidential spokesperson for comment but a security source said the men had been released on Morsi’s orders.

The Islamic Group was instrumental in the armed insurrection against the Egyptian government in the 1990s and Islamic jihad movement behind the 1981 assassination of former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat.

The group has also been an outspoken in advocating for the release of  Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, or “The Blind Sheikh,” currently serving a life sentence in the U.S. for his role in the 1993 World Trade Center bombings.

Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi Frees Radical Islamists Jailed by Mubarak

Amsaa (2nd R), the daughter of Egyptian cleric Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman (portrait), who is one of several Egyptians jailed in the US, demonstrates with fellow supporters to call for his release. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)

If you recall, the U.S. State Department has recently found themselves in hot water for inviting Hani Nour Eldin, also member of al-Gama’a al-Islamiya and an Egyptian politician, to meetings in the White House with senior Obama administration and State Department officials.

(Related: GOP Rep. Yells at Janet Napolitano For Claiming She’s Unaware of Classified doc Leak, WH Terror Group Visit)

Some view the pardon as an effort by Morsi to satisfy hardline Islamists that helped him get elected after he promised to implement Islamic law. Still, there are Islamists that want him to go further with his newly found power and release more jailed terrorists.

Further, roughly 2,000 Islamists have been released from prison in 18 months since Mubarak was ousted as Egypt’s leader, according to Islamist lawyers. A number of them were released on the orders of the council of military generals that “steered the transition,” Reuters reports.

Among the men released from prison in Egypt over the past year and a half are high-profile figures like Abboud al-Zumar, known for supplying ammunition for the Sadat assassination. Mohamed al-Zawahri, brother of al Qaeda kingpin Ayman al-Zawahri, also walked free earlier in 2012 after spending nearly a decade in jail.

Reuters has more background on al-Gama’a al-Islamiya:

More than 1,000 people were killed between 1992 and 1997 in al-Gama’a al-Islamiya’s campaign against the state.

The violence culminated in the 1997 Luxor massacre carried out by a group of al-Gama’a al-Islamiya members who ignored a ceasefire declared by the group’s leaders. They killed 62 people, mostly foreign tourists, at a pharaonic temple. In 2003, the group published books renouncing violence.

Al-Gama’a al-Islamiya has moved into the political mainstream since Mubarak was removed from power, setting up a political party, winning seats in parliamentary elections and later campaigning on Mursi’s behalf in the presidential vote.

Mursi had promised to work for the release of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, the group’s spiritual leader who is serving a life sentence in the United States for planning attacks in New York.

Al-Gama’a al-Islamiya has called on Mursi to release the last few dozen Islamists still being held from the Mubarak era.

According to lawyers working for their release, Mursi had sought to secure freedom for all the Islamists still being held, but the security forces had blocked the move, signaling the resistance he is facing from unreformed security agencies.

“Those remaining must be released,” said Tareq al-Zumar, a senior member of al-Gama’a al-Islamiya.

Egypt’s newly-elected president has yet to speak publicly about the pardon even though the radical Islamic al-Gama’a al-Islamiya group has publicly thanked him for the release of their members, who they say were innocent victims who suffered at the hands of Mubarak.

“Mursi is paying off a political debt,” said Nabil Abdel Fattah, a political analyst. ”This carries a message: that even those who were condemned to death can be released,” Abdel Fattah said.

Comments (20)

  • G-WHIZ
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:19pm

    Obama-adm is eliminating hoards of BorderGuards on the MEXI-BORDER, so the SEIVE is even more porus!! TRESON is in your FACE!! YOU ARE STILL ASLEEP and will be 100%Communist Islamist-controlled, soon!! The POS-in thief has signed over 2000 tresonous Obama-made fake-laws and edicts to overtrow our U.S.A.!!

    Report Post »  
    • Passerby
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:50pm

      Republicans have open borders for illegal aliens and protect them after they get here, every bit as much as the Democrats. It’s very good for foreign investors to have that cheap labor, among other motivations.

      Ban foreign contributions to our politicians and all America’s problems will be solved.

      Report Post » Passerby  
  • Geopatriot
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 7:51pm

    It’s all part of the big picture. Morsi left the terrorists go, because he could get away with it! And because they are his brothers. This way Morsi has his loyal thugs President Obama can’t do what Morsi did and get re-elected; at least not yet. So he will shuffle the Muslem prisoners and those charged with crimes (like the Fort Hood massacre) around and bogg their hearings down in red tape;for years or until the American people forget about them. Then he will set them free. Don’t forget, Obama has already re-patrioted several Gitmo prisoners already! It’s all a big game.

    Report Post »  
  • SurhanSurhan
    Posted on August 1, 2012 at 8:10am

    American presidents and governors of states have done the exact same thing with power to pardon. So, why are you guys condemning the Egyptians for doing the same thing?! Hypocrites!

    Report Post »  
    • Too_Far_Gone
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 1:29pm

      Why are you even here idiot ?

      Dirt.

      Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
    • Passerby
      Posted on August 1, 2012 at 10:10pm

      If any presidents pardoned cop killers, it was wrong.

      Know of a case where they did?

      Report Post » Passerby  
  • fuzzy20841
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 7:50pm

    What can you say that hasn’t already been said! Muslims have been coddled in the US for a long time!
    Obama must be defeated!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • lylejk
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 6:14pm

    How many more reasons do you need to give BO the boot; he pretty much single-handedly gave Egypt the Muslim Brotherhood the power they have now. Still, the lamestream media are keeping all these details from the American people so clueless the remain. :)

    Report Post » lylejk  
  • tothepoint
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:30pm

    And Obama and his gang welcome these Islamic terrorist thugs to our country.
    Sickening.

    Report Post »  
    • ACTFORCHRIST
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 6:08pm

      It’s only going to get worse! The book, ‘THE COMING: A TRUE STORY OF HORROR’ @ amazon tells the story of our future.

      Report Post »  
    • Logistician
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 6:14pm

      Obama and his gang would love to pardon cop killers here. The writing is on the wall for those not too blind to see.

      Report Post » Logistician  
  • Constructionist
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:17pm

    At least he didn’t pardon someone who was violating the embargo against Iran during the hostage crisis.

    Report Post » Constructionist  
  • AJAYW
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:13pm

    No different than what obama and holder did here with the New Black Panthers

    Report Post »  
  • MN NICE
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:10pm

    “innocent victims who suffered at the hands of Mubarak”… Mmmmhmmm… They look like a peaceful, fun, life-lovin group of people to me… Let’s see if BO has a “political debt” to settle.

    Report Post » MN NICE  
  • Secret Squirrel
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 4:56pm

    .
    Muslims killing other muslims.
    What’s the down side?

    Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
  • Too_Far_Gone
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 4:54pm

    They’ll probably get a job at The White House ..

    Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  
  • Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 4:47pm

    It’s their country. If they don’t want any form of justice and a bunch of Jihadists running around over there…so be it. If we‘re lucky they’ll blow up the other islamists.

    Report Post » Rothbardian_in_the_Cleve  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on July 31, 2012 at 4:42pm

    Wait until Obama starts handing out pardons to cop killers like Mumia Abu-Jamal on his way out the door.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • AJAYW
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:26pm

      There will be more pardons handed out by obama that anyone before him.

      Report Post »  
    • Too_Far_Gone
      Posted on July 31, 2012 at 5:36pm

      See that Charlie M , and you thought hope was lost ..

      I wouldn‘t put it past these ah’s ..

      Report Post » Too_Far_Gone  

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