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Egypt sentences 26 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death

April 12, 2014 at 11:57 am

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.

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.