The British government expressed concern over the Egyptian Court’s confirmation of 183 death sentences.
An Egyptian court on Saturday upheld the death sentences for 183 Muslim Brotherhood members, including leader Mohamed Badie, media reported. Of the 683 defendants in the case, 183 were sentenced to death, four were sentenced to life imprisonment, and 496 defendants were acquitted, Al Ahram online reported. The newly elected president Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi (pictured) is accused of running a martial rule in the pretext of democracy
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “I am deeply concerned by reports that an Egyptian court has confirmed death sentences for 183 people. The United Kingdom opposes the death penalty in all circumstances as a matter of principle. These sentences damage the reputation of Egypt’s judicial system and undermine international confidence in the prospects for political stability in Egypt. “I urge the Egyptian authorities to review these sentences and to ensure that human and legal rights are fully upheld in this case, and in the country as a whole.”
The defendants were accused of attacking the Adawa Police Station and killing a police officer Aug 14, 2013. They were also found guilty of committing terror acts, rioting, destroying public and private property, attacking police officers, and inciting violence. In April, the 683 defendants in the case were all sentenced to death.
However, the verdict was referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti for ratification before Saturday’s verdict.
The verdict can still be appealed.
On Thursday, Badie was sentenced to death by a different court in a separate case over charges of inciting violence in Giza, close to the capital Cairo. Violence broke out following the ouster of Mohamed Morsi as Egypt’s president in July by the country’s military over mass protests against him and his Islamist group. Morsi also faces trials, including ordering the killing of protestors and spying for Palestinian Hamas movement and insulting the judiciary.