EGYPT PROVIDES INFORMATION IN OPPOSITION TO

S E C R E T CAIRO 001428

NOFORN
SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR NEA/ELA, IO/PSC CROWE
TREASURY FOR CARLTON GREEN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2029
TAGS: EFIN PREL PTER KTFN UNSC EG UK
SUBJECT: EGYPT PROVIDES INFORMATION IN OPPOSITION TO
DE-LISTING OF HANI AL-SABAI

REF: A. CAIRO 1363

B. STATE 69814

Classified By: Economic-Political Minister-Counselor
Donald A. Blome for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/NF) Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Deputy
Assistant Minister and Co-ordinator for Counterterrorism
Ashraf Mohsen, in a July 19 meeting, restated Egypt's
opposition to the proposed removal of Egyptian citizen Hani
al-Sabai from the UNSCR 1267 consolidated list (refs A and
B). Mohsen also thanked the United Sates for giving the GoE
the opportunity to respond to the proposed de-listing.


2. (S/NF) Mohsen said that al-Sabai, currently living in
the United Kingdom, is a leader of Egyptian Islamic Jihad
(EIJ),associate of Ayman al-Zawahiri, and recruiter for
al-Qaeda. According to Mohsen, in April 1999, after al-Sabai
"escaped" from Egypt, an Egyptian military tribunal convicted
him in absentia of terrorism-related offenses, including
robbing jewelry stores owned by members of Egypt's Coptic
Christian minority to finance EIJ activities. Mohsen said he
had requested the military tribunal's case records, but it
would be "at least a month" before he received a response.


3. (S/NF) Mohsen attributes what he described as a
U.K.-driven effort to de-list al-Sabai to the British
Government responding to legal pressure from al-Sabai.
Mohsen also said that British intelligence officials may be
trying to "turn" al-Sabai and are using the de-listing effort
as an inducement. Mohsen scoffed at the idea that the
British would be able to recruit al-Sabai, claiming the GoE
had tried to do so and failed.


4. (S/NF) Mohsen provided two documents with information on
al-Sabai, a letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in
English, and an Arabic language document, which Mohsen said
Egypt's intelligence "services" prepared. The text of the
MFA document and the English translation of the "services"
document follow.


5. (S/NF) Text of document provided by the MFA:


With reference to your correspondence dated July 15th 2009,
and your request for concrete and actionable information
regarding our plea for the continual listing of Hani El Sebai
on the Consolidated list of the Security Council Committee
established pursuant to Resolution 1267 (1999) concerning
Al-Qaida and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and
Entities;

In this regard, I wish to reiterate that El Sebai
(QI.A.198.05 Code on Consolidated list) is a paramount
leadership figure in Al Qaeda and Islamic Jihad. He is
involved in recruiting for membership in these organizations,
as well as assisting in the planning, financing and mounting
of their activities.

The attached information has been communicated to us by the
relevant security agencies as the grounds upon which Egypt
continues to support the listing of Hani El Sebai on the
List, primary among which are the following:

-He is one of the leading cadres in the Islamic Jihad
Terrorist Organization led by Ayman Mohamed Rabie Al
Zawahery; who became an active member of Al Qaeda in early
1990s, and has provided substantial help to Osama Bin Laden
ever since;

- Hani El Sebai continues to be a fugitive from justice and,
still, poses a serious threat to the international community
given his membership in variant terrorist organizations
seeking to threaten international peace and security, and
advocating the use of terrorism to achieve their illegitimate
objectives;

- He is also notorious for propagating radical extremist
thought among Egyptian youth prior to his escape from Egypt,
in addition to inciting them to depart to Afghanistan with a
view to taking part in the 'Global Jihadist War';

- He was convicted by the Military Court on April 18th 1999
on the grounds of being a member of an illegitimate
organization aiming to use terrorism for the achievement of
its goals through targeted killing of security personnel and
other public figures (case 8/998);


- He is currently heading "Al Maqrezei Centre for Historic
Studies" in London, which contributes to the incitement and
radicalization of youth and the dissemination of radical and
extremist ideas via its website on the internet
(www.almaqreeze.com).

In view of the above, the government of the Arab Republic of
Egypt proposed that the name of Hani El Sebai remains on the
consolidated list pursuant to our strategy of fighting all
terrorist organizations posing serious threat to our
government as well as international peace and security.

The names on the UN Consolidated list, including that of Hani
El Sebai, remain fugitives from justice and continue to pose
a threat by virtue of their membership in several terrorist
organizations, primary among which is Al Qaeda.

Accordingly, and since they continue to assist in the
organization, planning and financing of terrorist activities,
and the use of violence for the achievement of illegitimate
political ends, we have ample room to believe that they are
adamant to pursing their illegitimate objectives; posing a
serious threat to global peace and security.

On these grounds, the Government of the Arab Republic of
Egypt has requested that the name of Hani El Sebai remains on
the Consolidated List of the Security Council Committee
established pursuant to Resolution 1267 (1999) concerning
Al-Qaeda and the Taliban and Associated Individuals and
Entities.

Sincerely,
Dr. Ashraf Mohsen
Deputy Assistant Foreign Minister
Coordinator for Counter Terrorism


6. (S/NF) English language translation of the "services"
document provided by the MFA:

Personal Info
First name: Hany
Second name: El Sayyid
Third name: El Sibai
Fourth name: Yousif
DOB: March 1st, 1961
Place of birth: Qalyoubia
--------------

Additional Information: He is one of Islamic Jihad cadre, led
by the terrorist Ayman Mohamed Rabei, Al Zawahry (whose name
is on the consolidated list under decision no. 1267/99) and
is a confirmed member of the Jihad from the early 1990s. His
involvement and assistance to the terrorist Usama Bin Laden
is also confirmed.

The named person is still outside the country and his threat
to the international community is in his association with
terrorist organizations whose main aim is to destroy and
damage unity, social peace and security on the international
level by using terrorism to achieve its goals.

There were several reports that he traveled to other
countries using forged documents to obtain military training.
He joined groups responsible for terrorist operations using
force, violence, intimidation and threats, and also destroyed
public properties to disrupt the authorities, functions.

The named person promoted extremist ideas among youth before
he escaped from the country. He encouraged youth to travel
to Afghanistan to participate in the Afghan Jihad. He has
been accused of terrorist activities in the country since
1981, and the country has also taken some precautionary
measures against him to limit his terrorist activities.

He received a life sentence in criminal case number 8/98
issued by a military court on April 14, 1999 for belonging to
an illegal group that aimed to disrupt the constitution, uses
terrorism as a means to achieve its goals, assassinate public
and security figures, commit murder and acquiring weapons.

He was detained in September 1998 in London for being a
suspect for planning and implementing terrorist operations
targeting the US embassy in Albania. He was released in July

1999.

Currently, he runs Al Maqreze Center for historical studies

in London that is active on the internet (www.almaqreze.com).
This website promotes extremist ideas and supports terrorist
operations committed by Al Qaeda. Through his website, he
also contacts terrorists worldwide.

It is clear that since he resides outside his country and
does not integrate naturally into the community, he has bad
intentions and has ongoing criminal activities through
terrorist groups in other countries. This further threatens
the stability of the international community.

He is enlisted on the Interpol list under number 2004-10/1449
A (red notice attached).


7. (S/NF) Post would appreciate Department feed-back on the
information provided by the GoE. As discussed in ref B, we
advised the GoE that the proposed de-listing of al-Sabai
would be placed on hold until August 4 to give it the
opportunity to present information in opposition to the
de-listing.
Tueller