April 14, 2014 | Quote
Cairo Court Officially Rules Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis a Terrorist Organisation
On Monday the Cairo Court for Urgent Matters ruled the Sinai-based militant group Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis a terrorist organisation, compelling the Egyptian government to uphold the decision.
What the new designation means for the group and Egypt’s fight on terror remains unclear, said research associate at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies David Barnett, who focuses on Salafi jihadists in the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip.
“Authorities have been operating against [Ansar Beit Al-Maqdis] for months now in Sinai and more recently in the mainland. I would not expect a major change in current operations, but simply a continuation,” said Barnett.