On Sunday, the Criminal Court headed, by Judge Wagdi Abdel-Moneim, ruled that the names of 716 individuals be removed from Egypt’s list of terrorists “after they ceased committing illegal activities against the state and its institutions”.

The decision came after the Public Prosecution asked security authorities to verify the continuation of terrorist activities by those on the list. Police investigations found the 716 people whose names were removed had ceased any involvement in terrorist activities, prompting the prosecutor-general to refer the results to the Criminal Court.

“The move comes as part of President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi’s directives to review the legal status of individuals in terms of their connection to possible suspicious, illegal and terrorist activities,” read an official statement by the Egyptian prosecution.

The statement noted that the 716 names are a first batch, with other names expected to be removed once it can be confirmed that they have ended their involvement in terrorist or illegal activities and renounced violence.

Under Egypt’s 2015 Terrorist Entities and Individuals Law, the assets of anyone added to the terror watch are frozen and their passports confiscated. The prosecution statement said people removed from terrorist lists would be entitled to regain their full legal rights, including control over their financial assets, freedom of movement and the right to stand in elections and join professional syndicates.

Reports suggest many individuals removed from the list were affiliated with the banned Muslim Brotherhood. Foremost among them, according to a report by the daily Al-Masry Al-Youm, are businessmen Youssef Nada, Omar Al-Sheneiti, Yassin Aglan, Ali Tolba, and Walid Asfour, former investment minister Yehia Hamid, preacher Wagdi Ghoneim, media specialist Haitham Abu Khalil, journalist Ibrahim Al-Darawi and Brotherhood activists Jihad Al-Hadad, Amir Bassem and Bahaeddin Saad Al-Shater.

The list also includes the names of Muslim Brotherhood late Sheikh Youssef Al-Qaradawi and the son of late Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The exact number of individuals currently on Egypt’s terror watch list is unknown but is thought to be around 1,500. The majority are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood and include the group’s supreme guide Mohamed Badie, deputy supreme guide Khairat Al-Shater, former speaker of the 2012 People’s Assembly Saad Al-Katatni, Safwat Hegazi, and businessman Hassan Malek.

According to former Bar Association head Sameh Ashour, “President Al-Sisi’s decision comes at an opportune time and is likely to be followed by further measures and presidential initiatives that could help resolve lingering issues and assist in the reintegration of citizens into society.”

Ashour said that while most of those lifted from the terrorist lists are living abroad, others are serving prison sentences or being held in custody pending trial.

“There are two lists of terrorist entities and individuals, one prepared by the Interior Ministry for those operating inside the country, another prepared by the Foreign Ministry for those operating abroad.” Names of individuals are placed on the lists, explained Ashour, if they engage in terrorist activities or fund terrorist operations that claim the lives of innocent people.

Head of parliament’s Human Rights Committee Tarek Radwan said the move will help improve Egypt’s image in terms of respect for human rights. “The move comes while Egypt is preparing for the Universal Periodic Review of its human rights conditions, scheduled for January 2025 at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva,” noted Radwan.

In a TV interview, Radwan argued that the removal of the names does not suggest that “the state is ready to reconcile with the banned Muslim Brotherhood.”

“The Muslim Brotherhood remains a terrorist-designated organisation and there is widespread popular rejection of any move that might lead to reintegrating it into society.”

Moushira Khattab, president of the National Council for Human Rights (NCHR), said the move aligns with the state’s commitment to respecting human rights.

“The authorities clarified that they will continue to review the situation of individuals remaining on terrorist lists and that whoever is proven to have stopped their illegal activities will have their name removed from the lists in accordance with due legal procedures,” said Khattab.

“This decision took a lot of time and effort. Judicial, prosecution and security authorities had to reach a unanimous decision that the 716 names removed from the list deserved to be pardoned and reintegrated in society.”

It is now necessary, she said, to ensure that those removed from the list do not rejoin terrorist organisations or engage in terrorist activities. “They will need social, psychological and financial support to reinforce their sense of belonging to the country so they become productive citizens.”

The National Dialogue’s Board of Trustees described the move as a reflection of Egypt’s ongoing efforts to advance human rights and demonstrate the political leadership’s commitment to swift and fair justice.

In a statement, the board noted that the removal of names upholds the National Dialogue’s principles and goals and creates a positive atmosphere regarding human rights and public freedoms.

“It also signifies genuine political will to deepen such progress and reflects a constructive response to the National Dialogue’s objectives which have focused on human rights issues since its launch more than two years ago,” the statement concluded.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 28 November, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly