21 terrorists of 'Damietta Cell' referred to Grand Mufti

CAIRO – 19 December 2017: The Cairo Criminal Court, convened at Tora district, referred death sentence against 21 defendants, in the trial of “Damietta Terrorist Cell,” on Tuesday to the Azhar’s Grand Mufti on charges of joining an illegal group and plotting against Egypt’s national security.

The Mufti’s religious decision, which will either approve or disapprove the death sentences, is set to be announced on February 22, according to Counselor Shabib al-Damarany, who pronounced the verdict on Tuesday.

The defendants are accused of joining a terrorist group, targeting public and private facilities and plotting to assassinate military and police personnel.

The terrorist militants have launched several major attacks, most recently targeting Cairo and other cities with the loss of dozens of lives.

The Egyptian army has struggled to crush militant violence based in Sinai, which has killed hundreds of police and troops and at times expanded to mainland cities, including Cairo.

Egyptian military and security forces have been battling a dangerous insurgency in the North of the Sinai Peninsula since the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi in June 2013.