Mohamed Badie, the Muslim Brotherhood's former Supreme Guide, has lost his appeal against a life prison sentence for involvement in violent protests in Qalyubiya in July 2013 following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi.
The Court of Cassation ruled on Wednesday that the sentence against Badie and 36 other members of the banned group should stand, meaning the sentences cannot be appealed again.
The 37 men were convicted of inciting violence on the Cairo-Alexandria Agricultural Road that resulted in the deaths of two people and the injury of 35 others.
The defense team pleaded that the original verdict should be nullified due to mistakes in applying and interpreting the law. Defense lawyers also raised questions over the way investigations were conducted by the prosecution.
In the original trial, Shubra al-Kheima Criminal Court sentenced 37 people, including Badie and Islamic preacher Safwat Hegazy, to life in prison. Ten others were found guilty in absentia and handed the death penalty.
Those due to start life sentences also include Hossam Marghany, leader with the group in Qalyubiya province, and Abdullah Barakat, former dean of Azhar University’s Faculty of Islamic Preaching.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
