Egypt court cancels life sentences against Muslim Brotherhood chief Badie, others

Egypt’s Court of Cassation overturned Monday a life sentence handed to Muslim Brotherhood chief and spiritual guide Mohamed Badie over violence-related charges in an appeal session, ordering a retrial.

The cassation court also reversed life sentences against 12 others, including deputy-leader Khairat El-Shater and senior Brotherhood figures Essam El-Erian, Saad el-Katatni and Mohamed el-Beltagy.

Four death sentences against lower-level members in the case have also been overturned.

The court said the verdicts in the case were “flawed” and therefore accepted the appeals.

The defendants were charged with “inciting murder” and “attempted murder” that resulted in the killing of nine protesters demonstrating outside a Brotherhood office on 30 June, 2013, days before the ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

Badie has faced numerous trials and has been handed two death sentences and six other life sentences in separate cases. Both death sentences have been revoked and he was granted a retrial.

Some of Badie’s co-defendants in the case, as well as other leading members of the Brotherhood, including Morsi himself, are also standing trial in other cases on various charges.

Morsi was ousted in 2013 after mass protests against his one-year rule. Hundreds have been killed in street violence since, and thousands, mostly Islamists, have been jailed. Hundreds more have been sentenced to death, though many have won retrials.

source: Ahram Online