Egypt attempts to reimpose asset freeze on soccer star Aboutrika

Egypt’s justice ministry and central bank filed an appeal against a court decision that set aside a freeze on retired soccer star Mohamed Aboutrika.

In January, a lower court had added Aboutrika’s name to a terror watchlist, which rendered his assets and passport subject to a freeze in line with the country’s anti-terrorism law. Aboutrika, who is accused by Egyptian authorities of supporting and funding the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood group, subsequently appealed the decision, winning his case.

This is not the first time Aboutrika and the Egyptian authorities engage in a legal battle over his assets. The soccer legend had previously appealed an earlier court ruling ordering a freeze on his assets, and a higher court also annulled the freeze in June 2016.

Along with Aboutrika, a number of activists, politicians, public figures and youth were also placed on the terror list by virtue of January’s court ruling.

Since President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi led a military coup against the democratically elected government of President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, the Egyptian authorities have launched an unprecedented crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood group’s leaders and members, as well as those suspected of even sympathising with the group.

The Egyptian authorities hold the group responsible for a wave of militant attacks that have swept the Sinai Peninsula and occasionally crept into other provinces and the capital Cairo. The Brotherhood strongly denies the accusations.