Egyptian court sentences deceased MB leader to three years in prison

An Alexandria court sentenced on Thursday Jamal Madi, a former leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement in Alexandria, to three years in prison and ordered him to pay a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($7,143), even though Madi died in October 2013.

Madi’s lawyer Mohammed Ramadan said that Madi was found guilty of inciting violence in the Bab Sharqi incident in Alexandria in September 2013 in violation of Egyptian law, which prohibits prosecuting the deceased, as they are denied the right to defend themselves against the charges. Madi pointed out that he submitted to the court a document proving that his client had passed away, but the court disregarded the document. He will be appealing the court’s ruling.

The Court also sentenced on Thursday 27 supporters of President Mohamed Morsi to one year in prison, ordering them to pay a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,428 USD), and found ten others guilty in absentia, giving them a punishment of three years and a fine of 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($7,143 USD).

The Freedom and Justice Party stated that, “The court’s sentence signals the deterioration of the justice system in Egypt.” The party’s statement added that: “The Egyptian security and police have been investigating the deceased although they know he died in October. The court has also been informed of his death; however, it issued its decision regardless.”

Madi’s son, Muhammad told Anadolu Agency that the charges against his late father “are baseless and reveal that the investigating officer is an irresponsible person. My father died five months ago in his hospital bed where he spent the last days.”

The Egyptian authorities were unavailable to comment on the matter.

The Muslim Brotherhood described Madi on its website as an active leader who joined the movement at a young age. “He was an active member of the organisation who supervised many activities including educational and intellectual ones. He remained a member of the administrative office, the highest organisational unit, until his death,” the statement read.