Death sentences of 12 Brotherhood members referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti

An Egyptian court has referred the cases of 12 members of the Muslim Brotherhood to the Grand Mufti, the first step towards imposing a death sentence.

The defendants are accused of storming the Matai police station and killing deputy chief Mustafa Al-Atar.

The Minya Criminal Court has also set 7 August as the date to sentence the other 391 defendants on charges of involvement in the incidents.

On 28 April 2014, the Minya Criminal Court sentenced 37 defendants to death, 394 to life terms and acquitted 17 others.

The Court of Cassation accepted the defendants’ appeals against the verdict and ordered a retrial.

Egyptian and international human rights groups criticise the authorities for the death sentences handed to political opponents of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi who took control of the country in a military coup. The rights groups believe the rulings lack the minimum standards of integrity and transparency.