Three women amongst 683 anti-coup activists sentenced to death

Three women are amongst those whose documents have been sent to the Grand Mufti of Egypt to gain approval for the death sentences issued against them and 683 other anti-coup activists yesterday.

According to the referral the three women are: “Hana Jumaa Gaddafi Massoud, bearing the number 273 in the referral decision; and Hana Sanusi Faraj and bearing the number 316 in the referral decision; and Sally Abdul Sattar Muhammad, bearing the number 320 in the referral decision.”

Defence lawyer Khaled El-Komi said: “The inclusion of the names of the three females amongst those accused in the storming the police in the Minya Governorate suggests the case is fabricated. It is unreasonable to think that women were paid to break into the police station.”

He asked: “Where is the National Council for Human Rights at a time when their papers are being transferred to the Mufti? And where are the satellite channels and human rights organisations that defend women?”

He continued: “The charges were fabricated and the judge’s verdict is not related to the case. Appealing these provisions before the Court of Cassation is the way to prove the innocence of the accused,” adding that the women are undergoing trial in absentia.

The Minya Criminal Court sentenced 37 anti-coup activists to death and passed life imprisonment sentences of 25 years to 491 others following finding them guilty of charges of killing a policeman and the attempted murder of another, as well as storming police stations in Minya.

On Monday the court also referred the documents of a further 683 defendants, including Mohammed Badie, the supreme guide of the Muslim Brotherhood, to the Grand Mufti of Egypt to obtain his consent on the matter, knowing that his consent is just a means of advice and not binding for the judge. The group was charged with incitement and acts of violence and disturbing the public peace.

The court, presided over by Judge Said Youssef Saad Sabra, along with Judges Ibrahim Waleed and Talaat Jawda, set the date of June 21 for a verdict on the 683 cases

According to judicial sources, the ruling is subject to appeal and is referred to the Court of Cassation for reconsideration.