Egypt upholds death sentences for 10 Islamists

CAIRO – Egyptian judicial officials say a Cairo court has upheld death sentences against 10 members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood and sentenced 38 others to life, including the spiritual leader of the Islamist group.

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All 10 Brotherhood members whose death sentences were confirmed were tried in absentia.

The 48 were found guilty of inciting violence, attacking security forces and blocking a main road north of Cairo last year, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Saturday’s verdicts are part of an ongoing crackdown against Islamists that began after the military’s ouster last year of President Mohammed Morsi, who hails from the Brotherhood. He, together with spiritual leader Mohammed Badie, are in detention and face multiple trials.