Egypt sentences militants to death
Egypt sentences militants to death
An Egyptian court has condemned seven members of Ansar Beit al-Maqdis to death after attacks on troops.
2 min read
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis have claimed several attacks (AFP/Getty)
Seven members of the Islamist militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis have been sentenced to death by an Egyptian military court on Tuesday. The group were condemned for their roles in atacks that killed nine soldiers this year, an official said.
Two other members of the group - which has announced its support for the Islamic State group (IS, formerly known as ISIS), but has not formally pledged its allegiance - were sentenced to life in prison, which amounts to 25 years in Egypt.
The nine were found guilty of killing six soldiers in March during an attack on an army outpost in Qalubiya province, north of Cairo.
They were also found guilty of killing two military explosive experts during the raid which captured six of the group in March. The group had been hiding out on the outskirts of Cairo.
One of the defendants was tried in absentia.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in Sinai, was initially known for firing rockets at Israel and attacking pipelines that supply gas to the Israelis.
Since the coup against former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, the group has reportedly focused more on attacking the Egyptian state and its apparatus.
Mada Masr, an independent online news website, reviewed the case and the trial documents, finding that two of the defendents were previously arrested, spending between three and five years in prisons during the reign of Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was forced to step down following mass protests against him in 2011.
At least one of the defendants had travelled to Syria to join armed groups there before returning to Egypt to join Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, Mada Masr alleged.
Two other members of the group - which has announced its support for the Islamic State group (IS, formerly known as ISIS), but has not formally pledged its allegiance - were sentenced to life in prison, which amounts to 25 years in Egypt.
The nine were found guilty of killing six soldiers in March during an attack on an army outpost in Qalubiya province, north of Cairo.
They were also found guilty of killing two military explosive experts during the raid which captured six of the group in March. The group had been hiding out on the outskirts of Cairo.
One of the defendants was tried in absentia.
Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, based in Sinai, was initially known for firing rockets at Israel and attacking pipelines that supply gas to the Israelis.
Since the coup against former Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, the group has reportedly focused more on attacking the Egyptian state and its apparatus.
Mada Masr, an independent online news website, reviewed the case and the trial documents, finding that two of the defendents were previously arrested, spending between three and five years in prisons during the reign of Hosni Mubarak. Mubarak was forced to step down following mass protests against him in 2011.
At least one of the defendants had travelled to Syria to join armed groups there before returning to Egypt to join Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, Mada Masr alleged.
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