A resident of the Boulaq Abul Ella district of Cairo has been accused of insulting President Mohamed Morsy.
The Freedom and Justice party’s (FJP) Boulaq Abul Ella office filed a complaint against Ayman (Al-Brince) Abul Ella for insulting President Morsy and threatening to burn down their headquarters.
Abul Ella denies all charges.
“I was sitting with a group of people in the street discussing the [lack of Egyptian response to the] Israeli attack on Yarmuk, in Sudan,” Abul Ella said.
A bystander, unknown to Abul Ella, intervened, asking if he wanted the president to lead Egypt to war with Israel.
“I responded by telling him that if anyone other than Morsy were president, the Islamists would have…accused them of being a traitor and an agent,” Abul Ella said. An argument erupted between both parties. The stranger told Abul Ella he was from the FJP. Abul Ella claims he didn’t insult Morsy in this exchange.
Secretary general of the FJP Boulaq headquarters, Mustafa Farghaly, claimed, “Abul Ella spotted a number of FJP members leaving their headquarters in 26 July street on Thursday and started insulting them, the president, the FJP and the Muslim Brotherhood supreme guide. He also threatened to burn down the headquarters.”
Abul Ella was called in for investigation on Friday. He claims he was told the complaint filed against him would probably not go further.
Abul Ella claimed FJP members present at the investigation said they would withdraw their complaint.
“The complaint will not be withdrawn unless Abul Ella publicly apologises for his insults,” Farghaly said.
Abdel Rahman (Bouda) Abdel Latif, a member of the Boulaq Popular Committee, established after the January 2011 revolution to preserve security in the district, stated Abul Ella was a committee member. He claimed the FJP’s charges were politically motivated.
“We at the committee criticise the political situation just as prominent figures go on TV and criticise it,” Abdel Latif said.“Yet, while they can do nothing about those who talk on TV, they can always chase us.”
Abdel Latif claimed that the FJP has been trying to take over the committee.
Farghaly claimed that Abul Ella was not a member of the Boulaq Popular Committee, adding he was a member of the now dissolved National Democratic Party (NDP). Abul Ella confirmed to Daily News Egypt he was the spokesperson for Boulaq Popular Committee.
TV presenter and owner of Faraeen channel, Tawfiq Okasha, as well as chief editor of Al-Dostour newspaper, Islam Afifi, are among well-known figures also accused of insulting President Morsy.
