APPREHENDED
- Full name: Sayed Atta Mohammed Morsi
- Pseudonym: Abu Omar
- Alternatives: Sayed Sayed Atta
- Location: Egypt, fmr Saudi Arabia
- Affiliation: fmr Partisans of Shari’a in the Land of Egypt [ASAK]
Sayed Morsi (°1978) is an Egyptian jihadi from the town of Hehiya, in the Sharqiya governorate. Around 2007, he became a devout Muslim under the influence of Zagazig-based Salafi preacher Madin Hassaneen.1 Morsi studied and taught Islamic theology at the Azhar Institute. 2 He also spent time in Saudi Arabia to further study Islam.3 Morsi is known to have memorized the Qur’an.4
Morsi and several other Hassaneen followers formed a closely-knit group of associates. Following the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, they became involved in Islamist activism. Morsi came to believe that jihad against the security forces was necessary to achieve an Islamic state in Egypt.5 He actively spread this idea among his acquaintances.6 Morsi sympathized with the Partisans of the Holy House [ABaM; Ansar Bait al-Maqdis].7 He also got in touch with then ABaM member Hammam Attiya.8
Following the deposal of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in June 2013, Morsi took part in the massive demonstrations against the army. He gathered followers from Beni Suef and Giza during the protests.9 At the same time, Morsi also came into contact with senior ABaM operative Mohammed Rahim.10 He initially wanted to join the group, but eventually decided to form a new organization with his long-time associates.11 They established the Partisans of Shari’a in the Land of Egypt [ASAK; Ansar al-Shari’a fi-Ard al-Kinana] later in the summer of 2013. Morsi began to prepare the group’s members for jihad. He instructed them in tactics and gave ideological guidance.12 At the same time, Morsi took charge of weapons procurement and oversaw the ASAK’s logistics.13 His long-time companion and fellow Hassaneen associate Ahmed Rahman was appointed to be group’s commander.14
In early 2014, the ASAK embarked on a short, but intensive campaign of attacks against policemen in the Sharqiya governorate. In March, the group expanded its operations into Beni Suef and Giza. Although Morsi served as the leader of the ASAK, the outfit’s wave of attacks was primarily driven by Rahman.15 Police eliminated Rahman as they repulsed an attack in Zagazig on Mar. 09, 2014.16 In the subsequent weeks, the Egyptian authorities cracked down on the ASAK.17 Morsi was unable to keep the group together and most operatives fled towards Greater Cairo to link up with Attiya’s Reinforcements of Egypt AM; Ajnad Misr]. Morsi and the elements who had joined the AM were tracked down and apprehended within a few weeks.18
Morsi was subsequently made to stand trial in the cases against the AM and the ASAK. He occasionally behaved unruly during the proceedings.19 In 2016, Morsi was twice sentenced to two years in prison for having insulted the judiciary.20 In December 2017, a court handed him a fifteen-year prison term for his connections to the AM.21 On Aug. 12, 2018, Morsi was sentenced to death by the judges handling the case against the ASAK.22 The punishment was confirmed in October 2018.23
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