8 Brotherhood members sentenced to death in Egypt

An Egyptian court sentenced eight defendants to death on Tuesday on charges of belonging to the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group and handed 77 others life terms, a judicial source revealed.

The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Minya Criminal Court sentenced 29 others to jail terms ranging between 10 and 15 years each.

Five defendants, meanwhile, were acquitted of the charges.

The defendants who were tried in absentia were charged with assaulting police, judicial and state facilities in the Upper Egyptian province of Minya and joining the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, which authorities designated a “terrorist” group.

Tuesday’s verdicts are subject to appeal.

According to a legal source, the defendants denied all charges against them and will challenge the sentences.