This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-31914964
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie sentenced to death in Egypt | Muslim Brotherhood leader Badie sentenced to death in Egypt |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An Egyptian court has handed down death sentences to the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and 13 others, state media has reported. | An Egyptian court has handed down death sentences to the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood movement and 13 others, state media has reported. |
Mohammed Badie and the other key members of the group were found guilty of planning attacks against the state. | Mohammed Badie and the other key members of the group were found guilty of planning attacks against the state. |
Badie is embroiled in several trials and has been sentenced to death before, although the sentences were later reduced to life imprisonment. | Badie is embroiled in several trials and has been sentenced to death before, although the sentences were later reduced to life imprisonment. |
Egypt's government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group in 2013. | Egypt's government declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group in 2013. |
The court referred the case to Egypt's Grand Mufti, the country's senior Sunni authority, the first step in ratifying the death sentences. | The court referred the case to Egypt's Grand Mufti, the country's senior Sunni authority, the first step in ratifying the death sentences. |
A final verdict is due on 11 April, although the defendants can appeal. | A final verdict is due on 11 April, although the defendants can appeal. |
The 14 were accused of setting up a control room to direct the movements of Brotherhood supporters across the country. | The 14 were accused of setting up a control room to direct the movements of Brotherhood supporters across the country. |
Defence lawyer Ahmad Helmi branded the verdicts "farcical", in a telephone interview with AFP. | |
He said the verdicts were handed down even though the defence had not finished its closing arguments concerning five of the defendants. | |
Meanwhile, a court in the northern city of Mansura also sentenced to death eight Brotherhood members accused of setting up a "terror cell" and murdering opponents of the Islamist organisation, state news agency MENA said. | |
Their verdicts were also referred to the country's top Sunni Muslim authority. | |
The court is due to give a final verdict in that case on 22 June. | |
Hundreds of people have been sentenced to death in a crackdown on Islamists following the removal of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. | Hundreds of people have been sentenced to death in a crackdown on Islamists following the removal of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. |
Earlier this month, Egypt carried out its first execution over the violence that followed Mr Morsi's overthrow. | Earlier this month, Egypt carried out its first execution over the violence that followed Mr Morsi's overthrow. |
Mr Morsi is facing several trials, some of which could result in the death sentence. | Mr Morsi is facing several trials, some of which could result in the death sentence. |
Badie is a veterinary pathologist by training and assumed the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2010. | Badie is a veterinary pathologist by training and assumed the leadership of the Muslim Brotherhood in 2010. |