Egyptians facing international prosecution for links to coup includes journalists and clerics

The list of those being considered for prosecution by a team of international lawyers includes journalists and clerics associated with the coup in Egypt, it has been revealed. Tayab Ali of London’s ITN Solicitors, who heads the team, said that they intend to prosecute all those accused with crimes against humanity in Egypt, whether military or civilian officials, current or former.

Speaking during a press conference in London on Saturday, Ali said that all of those involved with inciting the killing of peaceful demonstrators face prosecution. However, he declined to name anyone on the list in order to preserve the confidentiality and integrity of the investigations.

Nevertheless, the Middle East Monitor (MEMO) has learned from other sources that the list of defendants includes generals and civilian leaders who took power after the coup, such as General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, Egypt’s Minister of Defence; Sedki Sobhi, the army Chief of Staff; Adly Mansour, the interim President; and Hazem Beblawi, the interim Prime Minister. The list also includes key members of the interim cabinet headed by Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim and Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy.

The anonymous sources said that the list of defendants includes journalists and politicians who would stand accused of inciting the coup authorities to commit crimes against humanity. According to the sources, the list includes media figures such as Lamees Al Hadidi, Amr Adeeb, Yousef al-Husseini, Wael Ebrashi and Khairi Ramadan; among the politicians threatened with prosecution are Tharwat Kherbawi and Abdel Halim Qandil. Muslim clerics on the list include the former Mufti of Egypt, Shaikh Ali Jumaa, who called openly on film for anti-coup protestors to be killed, calling them “infidels”.

Once formally accused, the list of defendants will be subject to universal jurisdiction laws which allow some states, including European countries and several others around the world, to arrest and put them on trial if they arrive on their sovereign territory for any reason.

Meanwhile, the International legal team had on Saturday announced the launch of a hotline and web address through which the public could submit information on suspects. The Telephone number is; 0044208522777 and the email is; [email protected]