Egypt military court asks mufti about civilian hangings

Egypt military court asks mufti about civilian hangings

Case involving 8 civilians accused of killing police officer has been referred to grand mufti for 'advice'

By Mustafa Eid

CAIRO (AA) - A military court on Sunday sought advice from the grand mufti on the possible execution of eight civilians charged with killing a senior police officer, according to a lawyer of the defendants.

Osama Bayoumi told Anadolu Agency that eight were referred to the country’s top religious authority; four of the eight civilians were being tried in absentia.

The court later set Jan. 17 as the date for issuing a ruling in the case that includes 52 defendants, 16 of whom are fugitives.

Among the defendants is Yusuf al-Qaradawi, the head of International Union for Muslim Scholars, and four senior Muslim Brotherhood members, who were not among the eight defendants referred to the grand mufti.

Referring to the grand mufti is a preamble to a death sentence; however, the mufti’s opinion is advisory and not an obligation on the judge.

The defendants have a right to appeal the verdict before a higher-level court.

In October 2014, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi issued a law allowing civilians to be tried in a military court.

In June, the Egyptian parliament extended the law for five years.

In recent years, courts in Egypt have referred hundreds of people to the mufti. Most of the rulings have been appealed leading them to be overturned and many have been reduced.

Since the overthrow of Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically-elected Egyptian president on July 3, 2013, Egyptian authorities have accused Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members of "inciting violence and terrorism".

In December 2013, Egyptian government declared Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist group.

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