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Egypt's cassation court annuls death, imprisonment sentences against 15 Islamists

Xinhua, October 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

Egyptian Cassation Court annulled on Wednesday execution and jail sentences against 15 Islamists accused of killing policemen in 2013, state-run MENA news agency reported.

According to MENA, the court recommended the retrial of the defendants at the Giza criminal court.

In April last year, Giza criminal court sentenced to death 22 defendants and a juvenile to 10-year sentence over killing a police officer after storming a police station in Giza governorate in 2013 during the unrest that followed the ouster of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi.

The defendants include 15 held in custody; with the remaining eight are currently fugitives.

The defendants were also charged with attempted murder of other policemen, illegal possession of weapons and the use of violence against police officers.

Kerdasa, once a stronghold of Islamists, witnessed another murder incident, referred to as "Kerdasa massacre," which dates back to Aug. 14, 2013, when dozens of supporters of Morsi stormed the main police station in Kerdasa district of Giza governorate, killing 11 policemen and two pedestrians.

The assault took place shortly after police forces cracked down on two main sit-in camps of pro-Morsi protestors in Cairo and Giza districts.

In September 2013, police forces attacked Kerdasa and arrested 188 people who faced accusations of murder, terrorism and damaging public property.

A number of the Muslim Brotherhood members, including high ranking officials, were sentenced to death. However, the sentences have not been carried out and can be appealed.

Since Morsi's overthrow, hundreds of his supporters have been handed lengthy jail terms and death sentences after trials. Endit