Egypt court declares Islamic State a terror group
Designation includes all groups allied with the jihadists, such as the Sinai-based Ansar Beit al-Maqdis
CAIRO — An Egyptian court has designated the Islamic State group a terrorist organization and banned it in the country.
The court ruling Sunday adds that it considers all of the Islamic State’s affiliates to be terrorist organizations as well.
Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis or Champions of Jerusalem, a jihadi group based in the Sinai Peninsula that regularly attacks Egyptian security forces, pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group earlier this month.
The Islamic State group has carved out a self-styled caliphate in territory it controls in Syria and Iraq and demanded the loyalty of the world’s Muslims. A US-led coalition is now targeting it in airstrikes.
Other countries across the region also have banned the group.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.