Court upholds death sentences against 4 over forming terrorist cell

CAIRO – 15 April 2018: The Court of Cassation has rejected Sunday appeals by four defendants against death sentences in the case known as “Awsim Terrorist Cell.”

The court also rejected appeals against sentences of 15 years imprisonment against 14 other defendants, and upheld life imprisonment (25 years) for other defendants in absentia.

In February, Cairo Criminal Court sentenced four defendants to death and 12 others to life imprisonment in the “Awsim Cell” case.

The defendants in the “Awsim Cell” case are accused of forming terrorist cells to incite chaos, attack public and private facilities and target security and army personnel.

They are also charged with attempted arson and placing fake explosive devices outside the Awsim Town Council and the local electricity company, as well as detonating an explosive device outside the home of Judge Fathy Bayoumi while he was inside.

On Saturday, Egypt’s Court of Cassation upheld a life imprisonment sentence against former Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie over charges of inciting violence in the “Rabaa Operation Room” case.

Earlier this month, the Court of Cassation accepted on Tuesday the appeals against sentences imposed on five defendants in the case publicly known as the “Warraq [terrorist] Cell” case, ordering the retrial of the defendants before another criminal court.

The defendants had faced various sentences, including the death penalty, life imprisonment and five years in prison.