An Egyptian administrative court postponed Sunday a lawsuit against the government's decision to redraw maritime boarders to put two Red Sea islands under Saudi control, fining the state lawyer EGP200 for failing to provide documents of the deal sealed between the two countries.

 

In the first court hearing, which took place two weeks ago, the court asked the state to provide certified maps and documents supporting the validity of the agreement, upon a request submitted by leftist lawyer Khaled Ali who, among others, filed the lawsuit.

 

The state lawyer who represents the state attorney judicial authority didn't provide the mentioned documents in Sunday's court session.

 

The court also decided Sunday to postpone the lawsuit to Tuesday, 31 May.

 

The demarcation deal, which was made last month when Saudi King Salman visited Cairo, caused widespread controversy in Egypt, with dozens of protesters taking to the streets to oppose it.

 

Dozens were arrested for participating in the protests, including renowned human rights lawyer Malek Adly, who was also collecting signatures supporting the filing of the lawsuit.

 

Adly is still in jail.

 

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi said in a public speech that state institutions have documents proving the islands are Saudi territory.

 

The agreement, which allows Egypt to use shared Red Sea waters for the excavation of natural resources, should be ratified by Egypt's House of Representatives before coming into force.