Egyptian court rejects transfer of Red Sea islands to Riyadh

An Egyptian court declared void on Tuesday a government decision to cede control of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia.

Egypt’s State Council – responsible for overseeing lawsuits filed against the government – turned down President AbdulFattah Al-Sissi’s decision to return the islands of Tiran and Sanafir, stating that they would “remain under Egyptian sovereignty.”

The verdict was announced following a lawsuit filed by rights activist and lawyer Khaled Ali.

If the court’s decision is approved by Egypt’s High Administrative Court, it will become legally binding; however, the government can still appeal the verdict.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed an agreement in early April stating that the two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir fall within Saudi waters, paving the way for a transfer of sovereignty to Riyadh. The islands lie between Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba.

Saudi and Egyptian officials, including Al-Sissi, said the islands initially belonged to Saudi Arabia and were under Egyptian control only because the kingdom had asked Egypt in 1950 to protect them.

The signing of the agreement caused widespread unrest and protests in Egypt.

More than 200 people have been arrested in connection with the protests, many of whom have been freed since, Reuters reported.