EGYPT SENTENCES 26 MB MEMBERS TO DEATH

Cairo, 19 Jumadil Awwal 1435/20 March 2014 (MINA) – An Egyptian court sentenced 26 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death on charges of forming a “terrorist cell” aimed at attacking the Suez Canal.

The 26 defendants have been sentenced in absentia. Meanwhile, the Northern Cairo Criminal Court sentenced a 27th defendant to 15 years in prison, according to Middle East Monitor (MEMO) report quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

The accusations include forming a terrorist cell in Cairo, Dakahliya, and Dammietta in order to target ships in the Suez Canal.

The Egyptian Grand Mufti Shawki Ibrahim ratified the death sentence on Wednesday.

In February, Egyptian security forces have escalated their crackdown against the Muslim Brotherhood, the major opponent of the July 3 military coup, handing down jail sentences for protesters totalling 945 years, and fines exceeding EGP 500,000.

Morsi supporters have been facing a crackdown by the Egyptian police since his ouster last summer. Hundreds have been killed and thousands detained on a variety of charges.

Not only citizens, Egypt  also arrested foreign journalists who’s covering the  anti-coup demonstrations. Several journalists, including Al Jazeera’s  reporter and Austrlian Peter Greste are still being held in an Egyptian prison for alleged contacts with the Muslim Brotherhood.

Egypt is still in chaos after the first freely elected president   ousted on July 3, 2013 following the announcement of Defense Minister General Abdul Fattah al-Sisi  and was followed by mass protests across Egypt  governorates.

Afterwards, security forces violently dispersed every protest hold after the coup announcement, killing hundreds of people who support the ousted president.(T/P03/E01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)