Terrorism is under control, says Egyptian parliament speaker
▶ Dr Ali Ahmed, who is in Abu Dhabi, says lead-up to next month’s presidential election has been fair
The Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament says his country has brought terrorism under control in time for presidential elections next month, after a recent series of atrocities.
Dr Ali Ahmed, who is in Abu Dhabi to meet Federal National Council members, said his country was on the front lines of terrorism.
“If terrorism gets out of hand in Egypt it will spread, so we are also contributing to the security of the Arab world and Europe,” Dr Ahmed told The National.
In November, militants killed more than 300 people at a Sufi mosque in the Sinai. The bomb and gun attack was the deadliest in Egypt’s modern history.
Last Easter, at least 45 Christians were killed in co-ordinated church bombings and on January 14 this year gunmen shot dead a Christian man in the turbulent north of the Sinai Peninsula.
Dr Ahmed said Egypt was ready to defend Gulf and Arab allies against any threats, be they terrorists or hostile states.
“Egypt considers any meddling with the security of the Gulf a red line that should not be crossed,” he said, without specifically naming Iran.
“And in Egypt we have land, maritime and air armed forces that are capable of protecting Egyptian land and Arab security. A challenge that the UAE and Egypt are facing together is that the region has been witnessing outside interference.
“We stand by the UAE to preserve its independence and the security of its land,” he said, referring to three islands – Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs – that have been in Iranian control since 1971.
Egyptians go to the polls between March 26 and 28, and incumbent President Abdel Fattah El Sisi is the only candidate with a chance of winning, given other challengers have been barred or arrested.
The only other candidate running is Mussa Mussa, leader of the liberal Al Ghad party, which supports Mr El Sisi.
But Dr Ahmed insisted that the election process had been free and fair.
“There are no political arrests in Egypt at all,” he said. “There aren’t even any exceptional courts or political detention.
“The elections are run by an independent national committee that includes 10 judges and is managed under comprehensive judicial supervision. And the door is open for any individual to watch over the elections.”
Egypt considers meddling with the security of the Gulf a red line that shouldn’t be crossed DR ALI AHMED Speaker of the Egyptian Parliament