EgyptAir’s Hijacker Fears Unfair Trial in Egypt

 EgyptAir hijacker who had threatened to blow up the plane has told the Flight crew that he opposes the Egyptian military-backed government, said the Associated Press.

His lawyer also said that his client’s extradition to Egypt would endanger him because authorities in his homeland doesn’t respect human rights.

AP reported that both the pilot and co-pilot of the Airbus A320 testified in documents supporting Egypt’s request to extradite Seif Eldin Mustafa that he threatened to destroy the plane with a fake suicide belt because “he opposed the Egyptian government’s policies,” according to the Lawyer Robertos Brahimis.

“A1996 Cyprus-Egypt treaty prohibits a suspect’s extradition on political grounds,” said the lawyer.

On the other hand, Egypt’s extradition request has nothing to do with his politics, said the prosecution witness Yioulika Hadjiprodromou.

The Cypriot Justice Ministry official in charge of extradition requests Hadjiprodromou  said Egypt has assured that Seif Eldin Mustafa will receive a fair trial. Moreover, he said that Mustafa will not receive a death penalty because the charges do not warrant it.

However, Mustafa’s lawyer said that his client would not have a fair trial in Egypt because of his political beliefs and he fears he will face torture or execution if returned.

During the hijacking, Mustafa presented written demands to the Egyptian military regime that led a military coup in 2013 that ousted Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected president. One of those demands is the release of women prisoners detained in the Egyptian prisons.

Seif Eldin Mustafa, 59 years old,  was arrested after forcing an Alexandria-to-Cairo flight to be diverted to Cyprus. All the passengers and crew members on the EgyptAir plane were released unharmed.