Taylor Scott International News
Egyptian court sentences 529 Mursi supporters to death (Reuters) / 25 March 2014 Most of the defendants were detained and charged with carrying out attacks during clashes which erupted in the southern province of Minya after the forced dispersal of protest camps on August 14. An Egyptian court sentenced 529 members of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood to death for murder and other offences on Monday. Family members stood outside the courthouse screaming after the verdict — the biggest mass death sentence handed out in Egypt’s modern history, defence lawyers said. State television reported the sentences without comment. A government spokesman did not immediately respond to calls. Several government officials said they could not comment on judicial matters. Most of the defendants at Monday’s hearing were detained and charged with carrying out attacks during clashes which erupted in the southern province of Minya after the forced dispersal of two Muslim Brotherhood protest camps in Cairo on August 14. Militants have also stepped up assaults on the police and army since Mursi’s ouster, killing hundreds and carrying out high profile operations against senior interior ministry officials. “The court has decided to sentence to death 529 defendants, and 16 were acquitted,” defence lawyer Ahmed El Sharif said. The condemned men can appeal against the ruling. The charges against the group, on trial in Minya since Saturday, include violence, inciting murder, storming a police station, attacking persons and damaging public and private property. “This is the quickest case and the number sentenced to death is the largest in the history of the judiciary,” said lawyer Nabil Abdel Salam, who defends some Brotherhood leaders including Mursi. On Tuesday, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide, Mohamed Badie, and 682 others will face trial on charges of incitement to kill. Only 123 of the defendants were in court. The rest were either released, out on bail or on the run. The government has declared the Brotherhood a “terrorist” group. Mursi, Mubarak’s successor as president, and other top Brotherhood leaders are on trial on a range of charges and accuse the military of staging a coup and undermining democracy. The army says it was acting on behalf of the Egyptian people, who took to the streets in their millions to call for Mursi’s resignation. For more news from Khaleej Times, follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/khaleejtimes , and on Twitter at @khaleejtimes Taylor Scott International
Taylor Scott International, Taylor Scott
