Egypt’s Court sets verdict date in Red Sea islands case

An Egyptian administrative court has set a verdict in a case brought by rights lawyer Khaled Ali against the government’s decision two transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia for 21 June.

Ali brought a lawsuit against Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail and Parliament Spokesman Ali Abdel Al for wavering Egyptian “sovereignty rights” over the two islands of Tiran and Sanafir after the signing of an April maritime demarcation deal with the oil-rich kingdom.

Ali said Tuesday on his Facebook page that 21 June has been set as the date for a verdict in the case.

The upcoming ruling will not be final and can still be appealed before Egypt’s High Administrative Court .

The rights lawyer had earlier asked the court to seek documents on the islands’ origin from the Egyptian foreign and defence ministries and to put the hand-over of the islands on hold until the matter is legally settled.

Egypt’s decision to transfer the two strategic islands at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba into Saudi hands has sparked widespread public outcry, with some critics accusing the government of “selling the islands.”

Egypt insists the islands belonged to Saudi Arabia and that Egypt had merely administered them while on lease since the 1950s.

Evidence presented by Ali to the court during a recent hearing included a 1917 book, a 1914 map and a 1940 Cambridge University Atlas all referring to the two islands as Egyptian.

Thousands demonstrated in April to oppose the deal and dozens of youths were arrested or are facing trial over such protests.

Those arrested include renowned human rights lawyer Malek Adly, who was collecting signatures supporting the filing of the lawsuit. Adly is still in jail.

Earlier on Tuesday, a Cairo court acquitted 51 people charged over taking part in the islands demonstrations.