Cassation Court upholds sentence in 'Helwan IS' case

CAIRO – 4 March 2019: The Court of Cassation upheld on Sunday a 10-year sentence against four defendants convicted of affiliation with the "Islamic State in Helwan" terrorist cell.

The following is the timeline of the lawsuit:

The arraignment by the Public Prosecution in lawsuit no. 25309/2015 included joining an illegally formed group, being in contact with a foreign terrorist group that is the Islamic State, vandalism of public and private property, and targeting police and army forces.

The charges also included adoption of jihadist and takfiri thoughts against the police and the army and launching hostile attacks against them; labeling Christians as atheists and legitimizing assaults on them, their properties and churches; targeting key and vital institutions, precisely those affiliated with security agencies; joining the Islamic State in Syria and Libya; receiving militant training and learning explosives manufacturing necessary for guerilla war; and planning to expand the activities of the terrorist cell in Egypt after their return.

The first trial session took place on May 6, 2016 and was held by Cairo Criminal Court.
The prosecution of the defendants occurred over six sessions.

Cairo Criminal Court issued its ruling on November 1, 2016 sentencing the four men to ten years in prison and convicting them of joining the Islamic State in Helwan district.
All convicts appealed the sentence at the Court of Cassation within 60 days as indicated by law.

On March 3, the Court of Cassation rejected the appeals and upheld the sentence.