Brotherhood leader among 683 awarded death in Egypt
An Egyptian court has recommended the death sentence for the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and 682 supporters, and handed down a final capital punishment ruling for 37 others, judicial sources said on Monday.
Seeking the death penalty for Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood's general guide, is certain to raise tension in Egypt, which has been gripped by turmoil since the army removed the Brotherhood from power last year.
BREAKING| 683 Muslim Brotherhood supporters sentenced to death, including Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie http://t.co/06Xm9sQgVW #Egypt
— Egyptian Streets (@EgyptianStreets) April 28, 2014
The 37 death sentences were part of a final judgement on 529 Muslim Brotherhood supporters who were sentenced to death last month. The remaining defendants were sentenced to life in jail.
Death sentence recommendations in the case involving Badie will be passed on to Egypt's Mufti, the highest religious authority. His opinion is not legally binding and can be ignored by the court.
Egypt: Revise Terrorism Laws to Safeguard Rights http://t.co/sqfFbVAr66
— Human Rights Watch (@hrw) April 28, 2014
The biggest trials in Egypt's modern history have reinforced fears among human rights groups that the military-backed government and anti-Islamist judges are bent on crushing dissent.
The authorities have branded the Brotherhood a terrorist group, an allegation it denies.
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