South African scholar released by Egypt after 2 years

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

South Africans on Monday celebrated the return of a leading Muslim scholar who had been held in an Egyptian prison for more than two years.

Abdul Salaam Bassiouni, 65, was arrested in December 2014 as he arrived in Cairo for a family holiday. He was accused of membership of the Muslim Brotherhood, which Egypt listed as a terrorist organization after the overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi -- a Muslim Brotherhood leader -- in July 2013.

“Thanks be to God,” his son Bilal told Anadolu Agency by telephone. “We are overjoyed that our father has returned home.”

Hundreds of people gathered outside the family home in Lenasia, a southwestern suburb of Johannesburg, on hearing of Bassiouni’s return on Sunday night.

“We are grateful to our community members,” Bilal Bassiouni added. “They have supported the family since his detention.”

Bassiouni, who holds both South African and Egyptian citizenship, had been held at Tora prison until was placed under house arrest in April last year.

Iqbal Jassat, an executive member of the Media Review Network, which monitors issues relating to Islam and Muslims in South Africa, said he was “extremely grateful” that Bassiouni had “finally been released by Egypt and has returned home to South Africa.”

Bassiouni heads a network of Islamic centers and schools across South Africa aimed at helping poor communities.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to comment on Bassiouni’s release.