Arab West Report Egyptian press summaries and media research for dialogue

The leadership of a terrorist groups abroad is divided on whether to stop terrorist activities in Egypt or not.



Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, who is currently in a US jail, has called for the end of all militant activities in Egypt carried out by Islamic groups and to completely disassociate themselves from the Saudi terrorist Usama Bin Laden. The call was approved by the ’Islamic Groups’ and signed by many of its leaders such as Karam Zohdi, and Essam Abdel Meguid. The leaders of the groups had previously denounced attacks on Christians since it is contrary to the religion and ideology.



However, the military branch of the Islamic group’s, currently residing in Afghanistan, has denounced the Sheikh’s call. The call has also been rejected by the leaders of the Jihad group Aiman Al-Zawahry and Abdel Al-Kader Bin Abdelaziz who said that those leaders are making a decision against the constitution of the group and that they should not interfere in the group’s activities.



The Sheikh’s call was also refused by the leaders of the ’Tala’I al Fat-h’ whose leaders are based in London, who said that a ’prisoner-of-war’, referring to the Sheikh, does not have any ruling powers while in the hands of the enemy. Abu Hamza Al-Masry has also rejected the call from the ’imprisoned leader’ and said that it means with this decision that the group has gone weak on its philosophy.



The Egyptian government during the past period released more than 4,000 detainees from the terrorist groups in the Governorates of al-Minya, Assiut, Beni Suief, Sohag and Qena. In addition, the Egyptian government has improved the conditions of the prisons. The Ministry of Interior has, however, denied that the release of the prisoners was due to a previous an agreement with the groups.