Egypt: Information on the group named "Returnees from Afghanistan", whether this a cohesive group, and their activities since returning from Afghanistan (1990-1998)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | EGY29487.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Egypt: Information on the group named "Returnees from Afghanistan", whether this a cohesive group, and their activities since returning from Afghanistan (1990-1998), 1 June 1998, EGY29487.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acc33a.html [accessed 28 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
DPA has described the Egyptian "Returnees from Afghanistan" as "militant fundamentalists released from jail in the late 1980s to help fight 'heathen' Soviet occupation troops in Afghanistan" (13 May 1995).
Without explicitly refering to this group, in 1993, Reuters reported that "hundreds of Arabs fought alongside Afghan mujahideen guerrillas against the Soviet-backed government in Kabul during the 1980s, learning skills which have been put to violent use in anti-government Islamic groups in Egypt and Algeria" (23 June 1993). The article also says that the group called "Returnees from Afghanistan" had been accused "of plotting to overthrow the [Egyptian] government." (ibid.).
Although the Research Directorate could not find the exact number of members belonging to "The Returnees from Afghanistan", AFP reported that the Egyptian police had investigated a cell of 40 militants belonging to the "Returnees from Afghanistan and Sudan" (1 July 1995). One of the militants was Mohammad Omar Abdel Rahman who, according to four members of the group, was smuggling weapons to Moslem extremists in Egypt (ibid.). He was the son of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, allegedly involved in the 1993 bombing of New York's World Trade Center building (ibid.).
The attached Al-Ahram article describes the operations of the "The Returnees from Afghanistan", their training centers, their financing and links with other terrorist groups. The Research Directorate was unable to find information on the "Returnees from Afghanistan" beyond 1995.
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.
References
AFP. 1 July 1995. "Son of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman Smuggling Arms to Militants: Police." (NEXIS)
Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA). 13 May 1995. "'Afghan-Sudan' Terror Network Said to Have Been Busted in Egypt." (NEXIS)
Reuter Library Report. 23 June 1993. Paul Eedle. "Second Moslem Militant Executed in Egypt." (NEXIS)
Attachment
Al-Ahram [Cairo, in Arabic]. 31 May 1995. "Sudan Said Playing 'Hidden Role' To Support 'Terrorist'." (FBIS-NES-95-109 31 May 1995/WNC)
Additional Sources Consulted
Extremist Groups: An International Compilation of Terrorist Organizations, Violent Political Groups and Issue-Oriented Militant Movements.1996. Builta, Jeffrey A.; Murray, John; Ward, Richard H. Chicago, IL: Office of International Criminal Justice.
The Jerusalem Report [Jerusalem]. 1996-1998.
The Journal of Muslim Minority Affairs [London]. 1990-1998.
The Journal of South Asia and Middle Eastern Studies [Villanova]. 1995-1997.
The Middle East [London]. 1994-1998.
Middle East International [London]. 1997-1998.
Monde Arabe Maghreb-Machrek [Paris]. 1994-1998.
Middle East Report [Washington]. 1994-1998.
Mideast Mirror [London].1995-1998.
News From Middle East Watch [New York]. 1990-1998.
Third World Quarterly: Journal of Emerging Areas [Oxforshire]. 1990-1998.
Electronic Sources: IRB Databases, Global News Bank, Lexis/Nexis, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).
