700 EGYPTIANS IN COURT AFTER MASS DEATH SENTENCES

Cairo, 24 Jumadil Awwal 1435/25 March 2014 (MINA) – Around 700 supporters of Egypt’s ousted president Mohamed Morsi, including the supreme guide of his Muslim Brotherhood movement, were Tuesday (25/3) due in court, a day after 529 co-defendants were sentenced to death.

The trial of more than 1,200  Egyptian in the southern province of Minya comes amid a military-backed government crackdown on Morsi’s supporters since his overthrow by the army last July, known as July’s coup.

They are accused of killing two policemen and rioting on August 14, after police killed hundreds of protesters while dispersing two Cairo protest camps, Palestine’s Maan  reported as quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

Monday’s largest mass death sentencing in Egypt’s modern history came after just two hearings and drew criticism from rights groups, the United States and European Union.

Legal experts said the shock verdict would likely be overturned on appeal because the court had rushed the trial without following the required procedures.

Turkey, Washington and the European Union expressed concern and questioned the fairness of proceedings against so many defendants lasting just two days.

But Egypt’s army-installed interim government defended the court’s handling of the case, insisting that the sentences had been handed down only “after careful study” and were subject to appeal. 

Of the 529 sentenced on Monday, only 153 are in custody. The rest were tried in their absence and have the right to a retrial if they turn themselves in. Another 17 defendants were acquitted.

The judgement can be appealed at the Court of Cassation, which would probably order a new trial or reduce the sentences, legal expert Gamal Eid said.

“This sentencing is a catastrophe and a travesty and a scandal that will affect Egypt for many years,” said Eid, who heads the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information.(T/P03/P04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)