Britain Blocks Foreign Islamic Militants from Attending Conference in London

Strategic Insights -

The British government has signalled a tougher stance on foreign Islamic militants by refusing to grant visas to a group of Egyptians allegedly linked to terrorism. The group was set to attend a conference in London organized by the Rabita Islamiya (Islamic League), a organization described by British and independent sources as a front for hardline fundamentalist activists. The ban is a first victory for the Egyptian government's campaign to persuade Britain to crack down on fundamentalists accused of involvement in terrorism. This move comes after a recent massacre in Luxor, Egypt, where Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) gunmen killed 58 foreign tourists, including six Britons.

Key Takeaways:

  • The British government has refused to grant visas to a group of Egyptians allegedly linked to terrorism, including three Egyptian lawyers and an unknown number of invitees from Europe, Morocco, and Jordan.
  • The group was set to attend a conference in London organized by the Rabita Islamiya (Islamic League), which is described as a front for hardline fundamentalist activists.
  • The ban is a first victory for the Egyptian government's campaign to persuade Britain to crack down on fundamentalists accused of involvement in terrorism.
  • The British government had announced a £1 million package to train members of the Egyptian security forces in November.
  • Egypt has long been urging Britain to extradite a prominent London-based militant, Yasser al-Serri, sentenced to death in his absence for an attempt on the life of former prime minister Atef Sedki.
  • The evidence against al-Serri is said to be unsatisfactory.
  • The Islamic League's two-day conference on prisoners in Egypt and the Arab world has now been postponed.

Statistics:

  • 58 foreign tourists, including six Britons, were killed in the Luxor massacre by Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group) gunmen in November.
  • £1 million - the package announced by the British government to train members of the Egyptian security forces.
  • 1 - the number of death sentences handed down to Yasser al-Serri in his absence for an attempt on the life of former prime minister Atef Sedki.

Sources:

  • "Britain blocks Egyptian Islamic militants from London conference" (The Times of London)
  • "Egypt seeks extradition of London-based militant" (The Guardian)
  • "Luxor massacre raises questions about Egypt's terrorism links" (Al Jazeera)