Muslim Brotherhood's Rabaa sign now 'illegal' in Egypt

A new law has been approved by the Egyptian cabinet that outlaws a sign used by anti-government protesters to commemorate the murder of at least 800 Brotherhood supporters in 2013.

MENA

1 min read

The New Arab

15 January, 2016

The Rabaa sign first appeared in late August 2013 in social media and protests [Getty]

Egyptian authorities have criminalised the four-fingered Rabaa sign used by supporters of the now-banned Muslim Brotherhood.

Egyptian council of ministers made the possession and distribution of "terrorism or hate-related articles, symbols and propaganda" illegal earlier this week.

The Muslim Brotherhood has been designated a terrorist organisation in Egypt, following the military coup against Islamist president Mohammad Morsi in 2013.

"The law bans carrying, printing, publishing and using signs and symbols of the Rabaa sit-in, the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic Group, the Anti-Coup Alliance, Ansar Bait al-Maqdis and the Islamic state group [IS]," an official told The New Arab.

The law punishes violators with up to five years in prison and fines of up to $3,800 if convicted.

The move comes days before the anniversary of the January 25 uprising, which ousted former president Hosni Mubarak.

The Rabaa sign is often used in anti-government protests and has come to symbolise Islamist opposition to the military government.