Five businessmen linked to the banned Muslim Brotherhood have been given lengthy prison terms by a Cairo court on charges of financing terrorism and belonging to an illegal organisation.
The verdict, issued on Monday after multiple postponements, is one of the most prominent convictions this year under Egypt’s long-running crackdown on the Islamist movement.
The Supreme State Security Criminal Court gave Wael Mohamed and Osama Hassan Orabi life sentences, while Ashraf Saleh, Ahmed Labib and Ismail Riyad were each jailed for 15 years.
The court ordered that all five be placed under police supervision for five years after serving their terms and that they, along with the Brotherhood, remain listed as terrorist entities.
Two of the men were charged with leading a terrorist cell on the Brotherhood's behalf with the aim of “undermining state institutions, spreading false information, and supporting acts intended to destabilise Egypt”.
The other three were accused of being accomplices “with full knowledge” of the group’s nefarious purposes.
Prosecutors said the defendants used business networks to channel money to Brotherhood activities and “to achieve the organisation’s objectives through violence”.
The ruling followed a protracted trial in Egypt’s terrorism courts that began in 2021 and was reserved for judgment in September 2025, but it was again postponed.
Prosecutors delivered heated closing arguments in November, accusing the defendants of exploiting religion for political ends and describing the Brotherhood’s history as “marked by violence and conspiracy”.
Since President Abdel Fattah El Sisi came to power in 2013, authorities have outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, declared it a terrorist organisation and prosecuted thousands of its members and supporters.
The movement’s leaders, including imprisoned former officials, deny involvement in violence and say they are facing political persecution.
There is also renewed international scrutiny of the Muslim Brotherhood’s regional role. In November, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing officials to consider designating certain Brotherhood chapters abroad as foreign terrorist organisations.
Egypt’s regime has long urged its allies to adopt a similar stance towards the group, which it blames for years of unrest.
The verdict can be appealed at Egypt’s Court of Cassation.
Why it pays to compare
A comparison of sending Dh20,000 from the UAE using two different routes at the same time - the first direct from a UAE bank to a bank in Germany, and the second from the same UAE bank via an online platform to Germany - found key differences in cost and speed. The transfers were both initiated on January 30.
Route 1: bank transfer
The UAE bank charged Dh152.25 for the Dh20,000 transfer. On top of that, their exchange rate margin added a difference of around Dh415, compared with the mid-market rate.
Total cost: Dh567.25 - around 2.9 per cent of the total amount
Total received: €4,670.30
Route 2: online platform
The UAE bank’s charge for sending Dh20,000 to a UK dirham-denominated account was Dh2.10. The exchange rate margin cost was Dh60, plus a Dh12 fee.
Total cost: Dh74.10, around 0.4 per cent of the transaction
Total received: €4,756
The UAE bank transfer was far quicker – around two to three working days, while the online platform took around four to five days, but was considerably cheaper. In the online platform transfer, the funds were also exposed to currency risk during the period it took for them to arrive.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
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CHATGPT%20ENTERPRISE%20FEATURES
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What is tokenisation?
Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets.
The five pillars of Islam
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
The Settlers
Director: Louis Theroux
Starring: Daniella Weiss, Ari Abramowitz
Rating: 5/5
The cost of Covid testing around the world
Egypt
Dh514 for citizens; Dh865 for tourists
Information can be found through VFS Global.
Jordan
Dh212
Centres include the Speciality Hospital, which now offers drive-through testing.
Cambodia
Dh478
Travel tests are managed by the Ministry of Health and National Institute of Public Health.
Zanzibar
AED 295
Zanzibar Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, located within the Lumumba Secondary School compound.
Abu Dhabi
Dh85
Abu Dhabi’s Seha has test centres throughout the UAE.
UK
From Dh400
Heathrow Airport now offers drive through and clinic-based testing, starting from Dh400 and up to Dh500 for the PCR test.
Friday's schedule at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
GP3 qualifying, 10:15am
Formula 2, practice 11:30am
Formula 1, first practice, 1pm
GP3 qualifying session, 3.10pm
Formula 1 second practice, 5pm
Formula 2 qualifying, 7pm
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Islamophobia definition
A widely accepted definition was made by the All Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims in 2019: “Islamophobia is rooted in racism and is a type of racism that targets expressions of Muslimness or perceived Muslimness.” It further defines it as “inciting hatred or violence against Muslims”.
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Director: James Cameron
Starring: Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Zoe Saldana
Rating: 4.5/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
