Egypt Muslim Brotherhood chief given new death sentence

CAIRO, Egypt – A court in Egypt on Thursday, June 19, sentenced to death Muslim Brotherhood chief Mohamed Badie and 13 others over violence that killed 10 people in Cairo in summer 2013.

Since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, hundreds of his supporters and Badie himself have already been sentenced to death in speedy mass trials that have sparked international outrage.

The court is due to meet again on August 3 to give a final ruling. 

Death sentences in Egypt are referred to the country’s top Islamic scholar for an advisory opinion before being ratified and courts may commute sentences, which can later be challenged in an appeals court. (READ: Trial of Egypt Islamists adjourned over their absence)

Badie’s co-defendants include Mohamed Al-Beltagui and Essam Al-Erian, top leaders from Morsi’s Brotherhood, as well as other Islamist leaders such as Gamaa Islamiya chief Assem Abdel Maged.

They were convicted for inciting violence that left 10 people dead in July 2013 near Al-Istiqama’s mosque in the Giza neighborhood, days after Morsi’s ouster on July 3.

Since Morsi’s ouster, a crackdown launched by the military-installed authorities on his supporters have left more than 1,400 people killed in street clashes and at least 15,000 jailed.

In April, a court in the central city of Minya sentenced Badie, who is being tried in some 40 cases, and around 700 alleged Morsi supporters to death over the murder and attempted murder of policemen. A final ruling is expected on June 21.

Morsi himself is detained and stands trial in several cases. – Rappler.com