The Cairo Court of Urgent Matters ruled on Sunday that the court lacks jurisdiction in two separate lawsuits demanding to designate Hamas, and the ultras football associations as terrorist organisations.
In the first case, the lawsuit called for banning Hamas, accusing it of “participating in terrorist operations”, including the deadly attack on Egypt’s armed forces on 24 October, which killed at least 30 soldiers, despite the incident already having been claimed by ‘State of Sinai’.
It also argued that leading figures in Hamas incited against the Egyptian army.
Hamas leader Isamil Radwan told the Turkish news agency Anadolu that the movement “looks positively at the court’s decision”.
In March 2014, a Cairo court ruled the freezing of financial assists related to Hamas, as well as the closure of its entire headquarters in the country.
There have been tensions between the Egyptian government and Hamas, as one of the charges former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi is facing is “conspiring with Hamas”
In the other case, the court also ruled that the case filed by Mortada Mansour against the Ultras groups, calling for their designation as a “terrorist organisation,” does not fall under its jurisdiction.
Mansour, the chairman of Zamalek Sporting Club, filed a lawsuit against the football fan groups, accusing them of storming the Egyptian Football Association, the headquarters of Al-Ahly football club, and the state security building, as well as plotting to assassinate former sports minster Al-Amry Farouk.
Mansour allegedly presented CDs containing footage of the incidents, state media reported.
Since their creation in 2007, the two dominant ultras groups, Ultras Ahlawy and Ultras White Knights, have engaged in numerous clashes with police forces. The ultras have become known for their anti-police and anti-government slogans, and played a key role in the 25 January Revolution.
