Cairo court sentences 26 defendants to death in absentia

The defendants are accused of plotting to attack ships in Egypt's Suez canal among other charges

A Cairo criminal court has sentenced to death 26 defendants accused of forming a terrorist group to target security headquarters and ships sailing through the Suez Canal as well as possessing weapons and manufacturing missiles.
Adjourning the final sentence hearing in absentia to 19 March, the court referred the case to Egypt's Grand Mufti for the latter's judgment on whether or not the defendants' offence is punishable by death in accordance with Islamic Sharia.
In the trial's first session, the prosecution had already demanded the maximum penalty for the defendants in absentia.
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