The Giza Criminal Court sentenced on Wednesday 12 people to death by hanging, in a final sentencing, for the killing of a top police official during a security campaign last year in Kerdasa. In September, Deputy Director of Giza Security Nabil Farag was killed during a joint security operation launched by the police and army in the village of Kerdasa, which lies close to the Giza plateau that hosts the Giza Pyramids. The 12 had been handed preliminary death sentences in June for charges of "formation of an illegal militant group, the murder of former Security Chief Nabil Farrag and attacking police and army forces, Christians and local churches". Preliminary death sentences are handed to the Grand Mufti, who issues an opinion on the case and hands it to the court. His opinion is not legally binding. The court sentenced another 10 to life in prison and one defendant was found innocent, in the trial that involved a total of 23 defendants. In the early hours of 19 September, security forces launched a massive operation which included to implement the "prosecution's orders to arrest a number of terrorists and fugitives" involved in the deadly attack on Kerdasa Police Station on 14 August, which left at least 11 policemen dead. Farag was killed shortly after the beginning of the operation. A military funeral held for him the next day was attended by then Defence Minister Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi, then Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim. The violence in Kerdasa began on same day in which security forces dispersed the Rabaa Al-Adaweya and Al-Nahda sit-ins, both organised to show support for ousted president Mohamed Morsi, leaving hundreds dead. The violence was not just restricted to the village of Kerdasa, but also occurred in the nearby village of Nahia.
