Former African Footballer of the Year Labeled a Terrorist

Egypt has listed former BBC African footballer of the year winner, Mohamed Aboutrika as a terrorist!

The former Al Ahly midfielder was added to a terror list for his alleged involvement with the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Mr. Aboutrika is accused of allegedly supporting the Brotherhood financially – the State of Egypt considers the Brotherhood to be a terrorist organization.

Mohammed Aboutrika in 2012, had actively supported the Presidential campaign of former Egypt’s president, Mohamed Morsi, who is a Brotherhood member – Morsi won the election.

Mohammed Aboutrika who was named the BBC African Footballer of the Year in 2008 had angered a large section of his teeming fans by his support for the Brotherhood.

In Egypt, once a person is listed as a terrorist, such a person becomes subject to a travel ban and might have his/her passport seized and assets frozen.

Counsel to Mr. Aboutrika’s, Mr. Mohamed Osman, said the move by the Egyptian government against his client was “contrary to the law”, stating that Aboutrika had “not been convicted or formally notified of any of the charges against him”.

“We will appeal this decision,” he said.

On his part, Mohammed Aboutrika has vehemently denied the allegations.
Mohammed Aboutrika was greatly adored by Egyptian football fans during his playing days for the Egypt and Al-Ahly – he was referred to with nicknames such as, The Prince of Hearts, The Magician and The Saint. However, his decision to publicly support ex-president Morsi (a Brotherhood member), turned many of his fans against him.

Mr. Aboutrika had some of his assets, including shares in a number of companies, seized by the Egyptian government in 2015.

Hundreds of people had been left dead and thousands of others sent to prison following the Egyptian Army’s crackdown on Brotherhood members in the last couple of years.

Days of violent anti-government protests eventually led to the ouster of President Morsi in 2013.

Kingsley Ukpai

I write, I write and I keep writing... Most importantly, I make sure everything I write makes sense!

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