Information on the International Office for the Defense of the Egyptian People [EGY41082.E]

The International Office for the Defense of the Egyptian People has also been referred to as the International Bureau for the Defense of the Egyptian People (Al-Majallah 2 Dec. 2001) and as the International Office for Defending the Egyptian People (The Herald 12 Oct. 2001; The Daily Telegraph 28 Sept. 2001).

This organization is based in London (Al-Majallah 2 Dec. 2001; The Herald 12 Oct. 2001; The Daily Telegraph 28 Sept. 2001; Executive Intelligence Review 21 Jan. 2000) and was founded by Adil Muhammad Abd-al-Majid Abd-al-Bari (Al-Majallah 2 Dec. 2001), who is also referred to as Adel Abdel-Meguid (The Herald 12 Oct. 2001; The Daily Telegraph 28 Sept. 2001), Adil Abd al-Majid (Al-Hayat 28 Jan. 1999), Adel Abdel-Bari (Egypt 24 Oct. 2001) and Adel Abdel-Meguid Abdel-Bari (Legal Research and Resource Center for Human Rights n.d.).

Adil Muhammad Abd-al-Majid Abd-al-Bari "fled Egypt in 1990 and was granted political asylum in Britain in 1993..." (ibid.). In 1997, he founded The International Office for the Defense of the Egyptian People (ibid.) and according to the London newspaper, Al-Majallah, "[h]is activity was against the Egyptian Government..." (2 Dec. 2001).

In January 2000, Executive Intelligence Review reported that Islamic Jihad (which is the "subsidiary arm" of the Islamic Group) was headquartered in London, and that "[i]n February 1997, the British government formally granted permission to Abel Abdel Majid and Adel Tawfiq al Sirri to establish Islamic Group fundraising and media offices in London, under the names International Bureau for the Defense of the Egyptian People and the Islamic Observatory" (Executive Intelligence Review 21 Jan. 2000). According to the news report, Abel Abdel Majid has been coordinating "the Islamic Group's overseas operations" ever since he was granted political asylum (ibid.).

According to the Federation of American Scientists, Islamic Jihad is an Egyptian Islamic extremist group that merged with al-Qaeda in June 2001, although it "may retain some capability to conduct independent operations" (21 May 2002). The two aims of this organization are to "overthrow the Egyptian Government and replace it with an Islamic state" and to "attack US and Israeli interests in Egypt and abroad" (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References


Al-Hayat [London, in Arabic]. 28 January 1999. "Confessions in 'Returnees from Albania' Case Deal Blow to Jihad Groups." (BBC Summary of World Broadcasts 1 Feb. 1999/NEXIS)

Al-Majallah [London, in Arabic]. 2 December 2001. Usamah Abd-al-Haqq. "Report on 'Increasing Signs' of Extraditing Islamist Leaders in Europe to Egypt." (FBIS-NES-2001-1207/WNC)

The Daily Telegraph [London]. 28 September 2001. Philip Johnston. "'Terror Groups' Hiding in the Heart of Britain." (NEXIS)

Egypt. 24 October 2001. Egypt State Information Service. "Egypt's Most Wanted." http://www.sis.gov.eg/wanted/wan.htm [Accessed 20 Jan. 2003]

Executive Intelligence Review. 21 January 2000. "Put Britain on the List of States Sponsoring Terrorism." http://www.larouchepub.com/lar/2000/terror_memo_2703.html [Accessed 20 Jan. 2003]

Federation of American Scientists (FAS). 21 May 2002. "al-Jihad, Jihad Group, Islamic Jihad, New Jihad Group, Vanguards of Conquest, Talaa' al-Fateh." http://www.fas.org/irp/world/para/jihad.htm [Accessed 27 Jan. 2003]

The Herald [Glasgow]. 12 October 2001. Lynne Robertson and James McKillop. "Pouring Oil On Troubled Waters." (NEXIS)

Legal Research and Resource Center for Human Rights [Cairo, Egypt]. n.d. Marlyn Tadros. "A Brief Lesson in History." http://www.geocities.com/lrrc.geo/terroristattack/terrorlist.htm [Accessed 20 Jan. 2003]

Additional Sources Consulted


IRB Databases

Internet sites, including:

Al Ahram Weekly

Almisbah

BBC

Cairolive.com

Cairo Times

Eurasia Net

Federation of American Scientists (FAS)

Radio Free Europe

Search engine:

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