The Supreme Administrative Court on Monday issued a final ruling backing an Interior Ministry decision to ban the entry of blank guns to Egypt.
The court rejected an appeal filed by weapons dealer Osama Samir Azer against a previous ruling that also backed an Interior Ministry decision not to release a shipment of 10,000 Retay Baron 9-millimeter blank guns.
In his appeal, Azer said that he obtained License No. 104 of 1976 to sell weapons, and that the license was still valid at the time the shipment was delivered in March 2011. He also said a sample of the guns was sent to the Interior Ministry, which said it was as per specifications, but barred the entry of the shipment without offering any explanation.
In its rationale, the court said public order and peace warrant the banning of such easily carryable weapons that look like and can be converted into real firearms. It also said the risks must be prevented, especially in light of the changes taking place in the community and the requirements of the security forces to confront them as they deem appropriate.
The court added that the refusal of the Interior Ministry is logically justifiable and not arbitrary.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
