The Rahmaniya Criminal Court in Beheira governorate sentenced seven people to life in prison in absentia for "joining a terrorist organisation and inciting violence and riots". According to Egyptian law, people found guilty in absentia are automatically handed the maximum sentence and are retried upon arrest. State-run MENA reported that the seven were "Muslim Brotherhood supporters". In the months following the ouster of former president and Muslim Brotherhood politician Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, Brotherhood leaders and members have been subject to an arrest campaign and been put on trial, on a wide range of charges. Brotherhood members and purported members have been sentenced to varying prison terms, up to life sentences, and many have been sentenced to death. Four Muslim Brotherhood members were handed death sentences on Sunday. Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie was arrested from a Nasr City apartment on 20 August 2013. He was handed two death sentences in June, one preliminary and one ratified. Morsi has been detained since his ouster in July 2013. His location was unknown until his first appearance in court on 4 November 2013. The Brotherhood was designated a terrorist organisation in a December 2013 decision by the Egyptian cabinet. Its activities were banned by an earlier court decision in September 2013. The Muslim Brotherhood's political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, was ordered to be dissolved by a top court in August.
