Giza Criminal Court issued preliminary death sentences against 10 defendants accused of terrorism on Wednesday, in the case known as the ‘Imbaba Cell’, although the case will first be referred to Egypt’s mufti [high-rank Muslim cleric] to provide judgement on whether the defendants should face the death penalty.
According to the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, the court set March 10 as the date upon which the final verdict will be received, after the mufti’s consultation.
The defendants of interest are named Mohammed Hamdi, Anas Mustafa, Mohamed Ahmed, Islam Abdelkader, Mahmoud Khalifa, Hussam Ibrahim, Islam Saber, Mohamed Hassan Gad, Hamdi Darwish, and Mohamed Abdel Moneim.
The defendants face various accusations from the prosecution, primarily related to charges relating to establishing a group – between 2013-2015 – which was considered a terrorist organization and a threat to public order and national unity.
The group was also accused of aiming to endanger society by possessing firearms, attacking the armed forces, and attacking state institutions.
