Muhamet Murtezi, Chair of Čair Municipal Council, linked to association on Egypt's terrorism list

Egypt's criminal court has included an association connected to North Macedonia on a five-year list of organizations and individuals designated as terrorist, and the group is led by Muhamet Murtezi, the chair of the Čair municipal council and a member of the Vlen party, a coalition partner in the national government.

Murtezi holds the mandate as chair of the Čair council for 2025–2029 and appeared on Vlen's candidate list for the Čair municipal council in the October 2025 local elections. Photographs on his Facebook profile show him together with Izet Medzhiti, the mayor of Čair and a noted Vlen leader.

Facebook posts and the Egyptian decision

On social media Murtezi has expressed support for the protests in Albania, criticizing the government of Prime Minister Edi Rama and voicing hope the political era will soon end. In a Facebook post he wrote: "Will Edi Rama's era really end soon, and will all this violence taking place on the streets of Albania end, remains to be seen. I hope this happy news will come tomorrow," Murtezi wrote on his Facebook profile.

The Egyptian court decision lists a total of 35 organizations and 36 individuals. It was issued by the Second Criminal Circuit of the Criminal Court in Cairo as part of case number 11108 of 2026 and was published in the Egyptian official gazette Al-Waqa'i al-Misriyya. The measures imposed under the ruling last for five years and include bans on activity, freezing of assets and property, and restrictions on financing, fundraising, membership and promotion under Egyptian law.

The Egyptian list names organisations active across Europe, including bodies described as the Council of European Muslims, the European Council for Fatwa and Research and the European Council of Imams, as well as several Islamic associations and groups operating in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Italy. The court papers use the Arabic name "Tajamu al-Shabab al-Islami," which can be translated as "Islamic Youth Association."

There is not yet an official confirmation that the Arabic name on the Egyptian list refers to the same legal entity registered in North Macedonia. Publicly available entries in the Central Register show a registered association called "Islamic Youth Forum – Skopje," whose translated name is similar to the Arabic wording, but the identity match has not been formally established.

Photo: press material from the event