Some Jama'a al-Islamiya members and leaders have begun receiving 1400 checks, amounting to LE73 million, issued as compensation for imprisonment and torture suffered during detentions of up to 30 years, said Ibrahim Ali, the group's lawyer.
Members have begun receiving payments of between LE10,000 and LE70,000 from the Central Bank of Egypt, he explained.
Ali revealed that Interior Minister Mansour al-Essawy promised Abboud al-Zomor, a member of the Jama'a al-Islamiya’s Shura Council, a general amnesty for those who have had court rulings issued against them.
He said the group has not decided yet whether to go to court or wait until the ministry fulfills this promise.
Ali added that the actual number of detained members does not exceed 15,000, instead of the 50,000 as rumored.
He said most of the leaders who have had court rulings issued against them are former and current members of the Shura Council, as well as the group’s general assembly. The members have been kept under heavy security.
Translated from the Arabic Edition
