Egyptian court sentences Brotherhood official to 15 years

An Egyptian military court has sentenced the deputy leader of the Muslim Brotherhood to 15 years in prison and 15 others for various terms, including life imprisonment, Anadolu reported on Wednesday.

Khayrat Al-Shater’s 15 years was matched by the sentence given to Ahmed Ghonim, explained human rights activist and lawyer Izzat Ghonim. Other sentences included life for Anas Sayid, Islam Jomaa and Mahmoud Al-Morshid; a 10-year sentence was given to Mohamed Joudeh. According to Egyptian law, appeals against the sentences must be lodged within 60 days.

Although there were 36 defendants in this case, the military courts do not always issue detailed information about their proceedings, Anadolu pointed out. The 36 were prosecuted after allegations were made that they had “planted spying devices prior to the presidential elections in 2012, aiming to spy on state institutions.” The claims were denied, said lawyers for the defendants, some of whom were subjected to “enforced disappearance” rather than normal arrest procedures.

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In June 2015, four of the defendants appeared in a video on state-owned television in which they appeared to acknowledge their guilt. However, their families and defence team doubted the veracity of the video and said that they “could have been pressured” into making such statements.

The use of military courts to try civilians has raised concerns with local and international rights groups. Such civilians, they point out, are denied their legal and judicial rights.

Al-Shater is also facing prosecution charges in two other cases, including spying for Hamas and other incidents at the main office of the Muslim Brotherhood.

Since ousting the first freely-elected Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in 2013, the Egyptian coup authorities have been accusing the Muslim Brotherhood of inciting violence and terrorism. Thousands of the movement’s members have been detained in violent circumstances and sentenced to long terms in prison.