9 MB leaders sentenced to life for communicating with Hamas

CAIRO – 12 September 2019: Muslim Brotherhood leaders Mohamed Badie, Khayrat al-Shater, Saad al-Kattani, Essam al-Erian, Mohamed al-Beltagi along with six other defendants were sentenced to life on Wednesday, Sept. 11 by Cairo Criminal Court in the case of “Communicating with Hamas”.

The defendants faced accusations of spying and communicating with foreign organizations to destabilize the country’s security and stability. The court, headed by Judge Mohamed Shereen Fahmy, also accused them with coordinating with violent groups outside the country in order to plan for hostile acts.

The investigations revealed that the MB leaders communicated and coordinated with Takfiri groups located in Sinai to carry out a number of terrorist attacks against several vital buildings and facilities. Other elements were directed by the outlawed group's ex-leaders to spread rumors to mislead the public opinion in Egypt for the favor of the terrorist group.

According to the Prosecution representative’s statements, the MB was also working to enhance communication links with MB fugitives in Turkey and Qatar.

On Sept. 10, Egypt’s Ministry of Interior announced arresting 16 terrorists affiliated with the outlawed group. The terrorists are facing accusations of being involved in illegal acts with fugitives in Turkey.

According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Interior Affairs, the security forces were able to unveil a Muslim Brotherhood-plan aiming to destabilize the county’s security and stability along with targeting several vital facilities and buildings of the Interior Ministry, the Armed Forces and judiciary.

The Muslim Brotherhood is designated in Egypt as an outlawed group that is held responsible for many assassinations and terror attacks committed since its foundation in 1928. The Brotherhood's terror acts culminated in the aftermath of the ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi who is affiliated with the group.