In Egypt, Ansar al Sharia Brigades posts hit list

Egypt Independent reports:

Naguib Gabriel, head of the Egyptian Federation of Human Rights, on Tuesday filed a charge with the prosecutor general, requesting the arrest of the members of the so-called Ansar al-Sharia Brigades, after they posted on Facebook a list of assassination targets in case the state falls.

The list included familiar faces from politics and the media, as well as Pope Tawadros II and other Coptic figures.

Gabriel said that what was posted constitutes intimidation, thuggery, threats to national security and safety, sedition, terrorism and violation of the rule of law, and that all these crimes are mentioned in the Egyptian Penal Code.

He called on the interior minister to conduct investigations into who is behind the group and its finances.

I’m currently looking into this group and the claim that it has posted a hit list.

For my coverage of the al Qaeda-linked Ansar al Sharia Egypt, headed by Ahmed Ashush (a Zawahiri ally), see here and here.

Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for FDD's Long War Journal.

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5 Comments

  • mike merlo says:

    I’m curious to know why the failure of the State qualifies as a prerequisite for the Ansar al-Sharia Brigade to indulge Their Night Of The Long Knives fantasy? Sounds like Ansar is eager to do another Luxor

  • blert says:

    The “failure of the State” language is merely a legalist dodge designed to make a transparent threat look as if it’s just a ‘hypothetical’ response that would only be invoked if the current despot was ejected.
    Morsi’s opponents are obviously going to be worried.
    This Salafist front has already named names.

  • Stephanie says:

    They sound like a pleasant bunch. 🙁 Hope Gabriel is successful in getting the government to keep them under control.

  • mike merlo says:

    @blert
    good answer

  • HJM says:

    More threats of violence from those claiming to be the true face of the “Religiion of Peace”. Adorable.

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