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Egypt halts court rulings on Red Sea island transfer

June 22, 2017 at 9:16 am

Egypt’s top court has suspended all verdicts that had been issued by other courts regarding a controversial maritime border demarcation agreement that transfers two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

Signed by the Egyptian government in April 2016, the agreement stipulates the handover of the Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi sovereignty. Since it was signed, it has sparked outrage among prominent Egyptian activists, journalists, intellectuals and public figures who believe that President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi “sold Egyptian land” to Riyadh in return Saudi aid and support.

Read: Egypt court rules against transferring islands to Saudi Arabia

The Supreme Court’s ruling stipulates a “temporary halt” on rulings issued by three lower courts, including a High Administrative Court ruling that nullified the agreement and an Urgent Matters Court ruling that rejects the former court’s ruling on the grounds that the court lacks jurisdiction on the matter.