Egypt refers 555 to military trial for alleged membership in Daesh

Egyptian prosecutors referred 555 people to military trial yesterday over accusations that include joining Daesh and carrying out acts of violence, a judicial source told the Anadolu Agency.

The suspects are accused of membership in the Daesh-affiliated Wilayat Sinai militant group.

The judicial source told journalists that the suspects include 216 who are currently in custody and 339 who have warrants issued for their arrest.

The charges, which the suspects deny, include involvement in attacks against public facilities, “carrying out acts that harm national security”, possession of explosives and involvement in attacks that targeted military conscripts and personnel as well as police officers in the summer of 2016, Anadolu reported.

According to a law issued by coup leader and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi in 2014, the case of anyone who is accused of targeting public facilities will be heard in a military court.

Human rights organisations have on numerous occasions accused Egypt of using the fight against terrorist groups in the Sinai as a ruse to cover up itsmoves to silence opponents and critics.

Read: Terror in Sinai not over, says Sisi