Egypt's Grand Mufti Shawqi Allam has rejected a death sentence issued against Muslim Brotherhood leaders over charges of inciting violence in Giza square last year.
The Mufti's report cited the absence of sufficient evidence against the defendants including the unsupported testimony of a National Security Agency officer who accused Brotherhood supporters of shooting at the victims.
Giza Criminal Court had on Thursday referred the case involving the 2013 deadly violence to the mufti for the second time, pending his approval of the death sentences.
Defendants include Muslim Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, group leaders Mohamed al-Beltagy and Essam al-Erian and 11 others who are accused of inciting clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed president Mohamed Morsy last year following his ouster.
The clashes near al-Istiqamah mosque left 10 people dead.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
