EGYPT: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM

UNCLAS CAIRO 002541 SIPDIS S/CT FOR SHORE; NCTC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PTER ASEC EG SUBJECT: EGYPT: 2008 COUNTRY REPORT ON TERRORISM REF: SECSTATE 120019 ¶1. Egypt is an ally in the Global War on Terrorism. The Egyptian and U.S. governments maintained a robust dialogue on a broad range of counter-terrorism and law enforcement issues in 2008 and exchanged information on a variety of terrorism, security, and law enforcement matters during the course of the year. In 2008, Egypt hosted the fourth annual session of the U.S.-Egypt Counter- Terrorism Joint Working Group, and the next meeting of the group will likely be held in 2009 in Washington. ¶2. There were no successful terrorist attacks in Egypt in 2008, due mainly to the vigilance and effectiveness of Egypt's security services. ¶3. During 2008, the imprisoned former leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad, Sayid Imam al-Sharif, issued a sequel to his 2007 critique of violent jihad. His critique, while not a rejection of the concept of violent jihad, attempts to establish "rules of engagement" and also suggests non-violent alternatives. ¶4. The Egyptian government's active opposition to Islamist terrorism, and effective intelligence and security services, makes Egypt an unattractive locale for terror groups. There is no evidence of active foreign terrorist groups in the country. However, Egypt's northern Sinai region is a base for the smuggling of arms and explosives into Gaza, and a transit point for Gazan Palestinians. Palestinian officials from Hamas have also carried large amounts of cash across the border. The smuggling of humans, weapons, and other contraband through the Sinai into Israel and the Gaza Strip has created criminal networks that may be associated with terror groups in the region. The apparent radicalization of some Sinai Bedouin may possibly be linked in part to these smuggling networks and Egyptian efforts to dismantle them. ¶5. In the past six years, Egypt has tightened its terror finance regulations in keeping with relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Egypt passed strong anti-money laundering legislation in 2002, established a financial intelligence unit in 2003, and ratified the latest UN Convention to Combat Terror Finance in 2005. In 2008, Egypt strengthened its anti-money laundering legislation by specifically adding terrorism financing to the list of punishable crimes. The Government of Egypt also maintains open lines of communication with U.S. Embassy officials concerning terrorist finance information. Egypt regularly informs its own financial institutions of any individuals or entities which are designated by any of the UN sanctions committees. In 2008, a team from the UN Counterterrorism Committee Executive Directorate visited Egypt to review efforts to implement UN counterterrorism resolutions. ¶6. Egypt maintained its strengthened airport security measures and security for the Suez Canal, and continued to institute more stringent port security measures. ¶6. The Egyptian judicial system does not allow plea bargaining, and terrorists have historically been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Terrorism defendants may be tried in military tribunals or emergency courts. In terms of evidence for counter-terrorism cases in the U.S., Egypt's judicial system is cooperative within the framework of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT). (Note: The MLAT is a formal mechanism for the United States to request from Egypt evidence for use in U.S. courts. End note.) ¶7. Many of the Egyptian president's far-reaching powers in the realmof counter-terrorism come from Egypt's EmergencyLaw, which has been in force since 1981, and wasrenewed by Parliament for two years in June 2008. President Mubarak has pledged to lift the Emergency Law and has called for new anti-terrorism legislation to replace the Emergency Law, noting that Egypt should follow the example of other countries that have recently passed comprehensive laws to combat terrorism. Such legislation reportedly has been drafted but not submitted to or approved by Egypt's Parliament. ¶8. Embassy Point of Contact: Ed White at whiteea@state.gov. SCOBEY