An Egyptian court sentenced 75 people to death on Saturday, including top figures of the ... more

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court sentenced 75 people to death on Saturday, including top figures of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood group, for their involvement in a 2013 sit-in, state media reported. An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced 75 Islamists, including Muslim Brotherhood leaders to death in what was referred to as the largest single case of capital punishment convictions by the country’s top religious authority. Egyptian law requires the grand mufti to be consulted on death sentence cases, although his opinion is not legally binding and those convicted still have the right to appeal. Sentencing for more than 660 others involved in the case was scheduled for September 8, the Al-Ahram news website reported. The case involves a total 739 defendants, including the Muslim Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohammed Badie and photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid. Egypt furious at China as replica Sphinx reappears at culture park



The charges range from murder to damaging public property. Also on trial was prominent photojournalist Mahmud Abu Zeid, widely known as Shawkan, who in May received UNESCO´s Press Freedom Prize. On August 14, 2013, one of the bloodiest days in Egypt’s modern history, a month after the army ousted Morsi, police moved to disperse a sprawling Islamist protest camp at Rabaa al-Adawiya square in Cairo. Mr Morsi hailed from the Brotherhood. The August 2013 clashes took place a month after the democratically-elected Mr Morsi was ousted, with hundreds of demonstrators and dozens of security personnel killed after the latter moved in to break up two sit-in protests. About 700 people were killed within hours at Rabaa al-Adawiya and the capital's Nahda Square where another sit-in was being held. Egypt’s courts have sentenced to death or lengthy jail terms hundreds of people after speedy mass trials, including Morsi and several leaders of his Brotherhood movement. Global rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch say at least 40,000 people were arrested within the first year of Morsi’s ouster on July 3, 2013.
A court in Egypt sentences 75 supporters of former president Mohammed Morsi to death, as part of a trial of more than 700.