Egypt steps up efforts to extradite Brotherhood fugitives from UK
With the recent terrorist attacks in England, Egypt is hoping Britain will change its stance and agree to extradite members of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt considers a terrorist group.
CAIRO — Egyptian authorities hope Britain will change its position on movements embracing political Islam following the Manchester bombing May 22 and the London Bridge attacks June 3.
After the spate of devastating terrorist attacks in Britain, Cairo officials are hoping London will agree to extradite wanted Muslim Brotherhood leaders who sought refuge in the United Kingdom after Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi was ousted in 2013. Egypt has outlawed the group as a terrorist organization.
Egyptian politicians and parliamentarians, who have always pointed to the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood's presence in the United Kingdom, are reiterating their calls for cooperation. The day after the Manchester bombing, the Egyptian parliament's Arab Affairs Committee issued a statement that read, "It is time for the British government to be aware that embracing extremists will not ward off threats of terrorism." Most likely, the committee was referring to the Muslim Brotherhood by using the term "extremists."
Parliament member Tariq al-Kholi, secretary of the Foreign Affairs Committee, said June 4 of the London Bridge attacks on Facebook, "If only they had listened to reason! It is the innocent British people who are paying the price."
