CAIRO Ñ Egypt has launched a new crackdown on suspected Islamic
insurgents in an effort to quell opposition to any U.S.-led war against
Iraq.
Arab diplomatic sources said the Egyptian crackdown is meant to prevent
Islamic militants from organizing massive demonstrations in support of Iraq
and against Israel and the United States. Such demonstrations were reported
in Egypt over the weekend to mark two years since the start of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Egyptian authorities have accused several Islamic groups of seeking to
capitalize on the tensions in the Middle East to intensify their drive to
topple the regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Authorities have also said the
groups have targeted key Cabinet ministers close to Mubarak.
Last week, Egyptian authorities ordered the detention of 36 Islamic
militants. They were identified as members of the banned "Takfir and Hijra"
group arrested in Alexandria, Cairo and other Egyptian cities.
An Egyptian security court sent the militants to jail until Oct. 10
pending an investigation of charges that they belonged to an illegal
organization sought to overthrow the government by force. The suspects were
also charged with possessing what authorities termed subversive material.
The group is said to be connected to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood,
which has also sustained arrests within its membership. The Takfir and Hijra
group was established in the 1970s and was said to have been influential in
mosques and schools around Egypt.
[In Morocco, the Islamist Justice and Development Party was tied as the
third largest movement in parliament. In parliamentary elections held over
the weekend, the ruling Socialist Union led with 45 seats, followed by the
Independence Party with 43. The Islamic movement and the Al Ahrar were tied
at 38.]
Scores of Brotherhood members have also been detained on charges of
attempting to overthrow the Egyptian government and replace it with an
Islamic regime. One of those arrested was Brotherhood ideologist Rashad
Bayumi.
The crackdown was reported as Egypt has imposed new measures to increase
the safety of Westerners. Officials said the measures would include a
separate terminal at Cairo International Airport for passengers heading for
Israel and the United States.
For its part, the U.S. embassy in Cairo released a statement that
advised Egyptian nationals that they could be fingerprinted, photographed
and questioned on their arrival to the United States. The measure, linked to
U.S. national security, will begin on Tuesday.
"The new system will require the digital fingerprinting and
photographing of selected [Egyptian] travelers upon arrival in the United
States, as well as responses to questions posed by immigration officials,"
the embassy statement said.
