Egypt court confirms death sentences for attack on police station News
Egypt court confirms death sentences for attack on police station

Egypt’s highest court, the Court of Cassation [official website], on Monday upheld death sentences for 20 individuals previously convicted [JURIST report] of a fatal attack on a local police station in August 2013.

The incident stemmed from a pro-Muslim Brotherhood [official website] demonstration outside the capital, in which armed forces killed hundreds.

Earlier this month another Egyptian court sentenced 75 people to death regarding the same incident. Among those sentenced was Mohamed Badie, leader of the outlawed Brotherhood. The court additionally sentenced 47 of the protesters to life in prison.

Many human rights groups have criticized [JURIST report] these sentences, claiming they result in a “gross and irreversible miscarriage of justice.”

Since the crackdown [Reuters report] of Brotherhood activity by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi [BBC profile], members of the group have faced mass prosecution although most of the death sentences given have yet to be carried out.

Judgments by the Court of Cassation are final and not subject to appeal.

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