Hani al-Sibai
Encyclopedia
Hani al-Sibai , also known as Hani Mohammed Yusuf al-Siba'i (
هاني محمد يوسف السباعي
)
and Hani al-Said al-Siba'i Yusuf (
هاني السيد السباعي يوسف
)
(b. 1961) is an Islamist Egyptian Sunni scholar and lawyer who lives in London with the status of a political refugee. As a lawyer in Egypt, he was a defense attorney.
It was his defence of Islamists, that got him into trouble with the Egyptian government. Egypt proved in court he was one of the fourteen members of the shura of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian authorities convicted him in absentia
in the case of the Returnees from Albania
and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment. In response, he fled to the United Kingdom
where he was later arrested and accused of membership in al-Jihad.
However, he remains in London, England as efforts to deport him have failed.
In September 2005, he was one of seven Egyptians whose names were added to the UN 1267 Committee
's list of banned individuals. A few days later he was added to the list of Specially Designated Nationals maintained by the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control
, as a supporter of al-Qaeda
or an allied group.
Al-Sibai is sometimes referred to as "Doctor" or "Shaykh Doctor" Hani al-Sibai, on the strength of a doctorate in "comparative criminal jurisprudence" (Sharia Law), though his degree is unverifiable. On the same grounds, he is therefore described as a former lawyer. He is the founder and director of the Almaqreze Centre for Historical Studies (
مركز المقريزي للدراسات التاريخية
) in London.
He has appeared on many Arab TV Stations including al-Jazeera and wrote a rebuttal to Pope Benedict XVI
's comments about Islam. Al-Sibai appeared on Al-Jazeera on 8 July 2005 to explain and support Al-Qaeda's terrorist attacks in New York.
هاني محمد يوسف السباعي
)
and Hani al-Said al-Siba'i Yusuf (
هاني السيد السباعي يوسف
)
(b. 1961) is an Islamist Egyptian Sunni scholar and lawyer who lives in London with the status of a political refugee. As a lawyer in Egypt, he was a defense attorney.
It was his defence of Islamists, that got him into trouble with the Egyptian government. Egypt proved in court he was one of the fourteen members of the shura of Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Egyptian authorities convicted him in absentia
In absentia
In absentia is Latin for "in the absence". In legal use, it usually means a trial at which the defendant is not physically present. The phrase is not ordinarily a mere observation, but suggests recognition of violation to a defendant's right to be present in court proceedings in a criminal trial.In...
in the case of the Returnees from Albania
Returnees from Albania
The case of the Returnees from Albania was a massive criminal trial in an Egyptian military court from February to April 1999. The trial is one of the principal sources of information about Sunni terrorist groups in the 1990s, especially al-Gama'a al-Islamiyya and its offshoot Egyptian Islamic...
and sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment. In response, he fled to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
where he was later arrested and accused of membership in al-Jihad.
However, he remains in London, England as efforts to deport him have failed.
In September 2005, he was one of seven Egyptians whose names were added to the UN 1267 Committee
United Nations Security Council Committee 1267
The 1267 Committee , was established on 15 October 1999, pursuant to UN Security Council Resolution 1267 concerning Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda and/or the Taliban and associated individuals and entities. The 1267 Committee is one of three Security Council committees dealing with counter-terrorism...
's list of banned individuals. A few days later he was added to the list of Specially Designated Nationals maintained by the US Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control
Office of Foreign Assets Control
The Office of Foreign Assets Control is an agency of the United States Department of the Treasury under the auspices of the Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. OFAC administers and enforces economic and trade sanctions based on U.S...
, as a supporter of al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
or an allied group.
Al-Sibai is sometimes referred to as "Doctor" or "Shaykh Doctor" Hani al-Sibai, on the strength of a doctorate in "comparative criminal jurisprudence" (Sharia Law), though his degree is unverifiable. On the same grounds, he is therefore described as a former lawyer. He is the founder and director of the Almaqreze Centre for Historical Studies (
مركز المقريزي للدراسات التاريخية
) in London.
He has appeared on many Arab TV Stations including al-Jazeera and wrote a rebuttal to Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
's comments about Islam. Al-Sibai appeared on Al-Jazeera on 8 July 2005 to explain and support Al-Qaeda's terrorist attacks in New York.