Notorious Egypt lawyer demands crackdown on Syrian refugee businesses

Samir Sabry submitted the complaint to the public prosecutor calling on the government to "probe the funding" of Syrian-run companies, RT Arabic reported on Saturday.

Sabry, a pro-government lawyer, is well-known for his multiple lawsuits in the name of morality and suing celebrities.

The lawyer accused Syrian businessmen of "invading" the market, driving up the price of real estate and pushing out local entrepreneurs.

He added that authorities should implement measures to investigate if Syrian business were being funded by "terrorists or people hostile to their country".

Sabry's comments have proved controversial, with social media users launching an Arabic-language hashtag to stress that Syrians are welcome in Egypt.

"The attack against Syrians mainly stem from some lazy Egyptians who cannot stomach the fact that others [have] succeeded to create profitable businesses in Egypt," said one Twitter user.

Around 130,000 registered Syrian refugees live in Egypt.

Unlike in other countries in the region, the refugees live among Egyptian communities rather than in camps.

Some Syrians have found success by opening up restaurants, cafes, textile factories, real estate companies and shops.

Many others struggle to make ends meet amid tough economic reforms and rising costs that have hit them hard.

Syrians mainly work in the informal sector, with some Egyptians viewing them as rivals for jobs.

Egyptian police have previously cracked down on unlicensed restaurants in Cairo's so-called "Syrians' street" in the 6 October district, which is home to a large Syrian community.