[Deathpenalty] death penalty news----worldwide

[Rick Halperin]

Dec. 2


EGYPT:

188 death sentence in new Egypt mass capital punishment verdict----Giza 
criminal court sentences 188 to death for the murder of 11 police officers in 
Kerdasa in August 2013


Giza's criminal court sentenced 188 defendants to death for a violent attack on 
a police station after last year's ouster of president Mohamed Morsi that left 
11 police personnel and 2 civilians dead.

The defendants were found guilty of killing the officers after storming Kerdasa 
police station in Giza, following the dispersal of the pro-Morsi Rabaa and 
Nahda sit-ins in Cairo on 14 August 2013 that left hundreds dead and sparked 
nationwide unrest.

They were also found guilty of the attempted murder of 10 other police 
personnel, sabotaging the police station, torching a number of police vehicles 
and possessing heavy firearms.

Out of the 188, only 135 were present while the rest were tried in absentia.

Defence lawyer Bahaa Abdel-Rahman told Ahram Online that among the defendants 
were two persons who died during the trial, but who weren't dropped from the 
trial, along with a minor.

The verdict was sent to Egypt's Grand Mufti for review, a requirement in 
Egyptian law before any execution can be carried out.

However, the Mufti's decision is non-binding to the court.

The court set 24 January 2015 to issue its final verdict, after the Mufti 
issues his decision. The verdict can still be appealed.

This is not the only mass death sentence issued by courts this year.

In March, Minya court gave the death penalty to 529 persons for killing a 
police officer, committing acts of violence, rioting, destroying public and 
private property, attacking police officers, and attempted murder of police 
officers.

In April, the same judge handed the same sentence in a separate case to another 
683 persons for also killing a police officer, committing acts of violence, 
rioting, destroying public and private property, attacking police officers, and 
inciting violence.

The Grand Mufti approved the death sentences for 37 in the 1st trial and 183 in 
the second, both of which the court upheld.

The 2 cases are currently being appealed.

The 2 mass death sentences were criticised by a number of local and 
international rights groups and organisations as well as foreign countries.

During the United Nations periodical review of Egypt's human rights situation 
in Geneva last month, several countries including Germany, Hungary, France, 
Switzerland and Uruguay recommended that Egypt abolish the death sentence from 
its penal code.

(source: Ahram Online)