10 sentenced to death in Qalyub Road case

Banha Criminal Court handed 10 defendants death sentences in absentia on Thursday and sentenced 37 others to life imprisonment in the "Qalyub Road" case.

The defendants were referred to a criminal court on charges of inciting violence in Qalyub last July, when two people died during clashes with the police. They were charged with belonging to a banned group, vandalism, possession of weapons, attacking citizens and disturbing public order.

Privately owned newspaper Al-Masry Al- Youm stated that among those sentenced to death was Muslim Brotherhood mufti Abdel Rahman al-Ber and Mohamed Abdel Maqsoud, the head of the Salafi Asala Party.

Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, as well as Brotherhood leader Mohamed al-Beltagy and Islamist preacher Safwat Hegazy, were among those who received a life sentence and a LE20,000 fine. The court also ruled for the seizure of the funds belonging to the Guidance Bureau, the Freedom and Justice Party and the Brotherhood association itself. The defendants will also pay LE100,000 compensation to the victim’s families.

Following the ruling, Badie told media representatives that former President Mohamed Morsi sends the Egyptian people his regards and advised them to read the Quran. According to independent newspaper Al-Shorouk, Badie added that a state based on oppression will not last while a state of righteousness will last until the end of time.

Bassem Ouda, former supplies minister, claimed it was ironic that he had been sentenced to life imprisonment the same day the new government raised fuel prices, adding that “the new government lacks vision."