CAIRO: An Egyptian court yesterday upheld death sentences for seven men over the killing of 25 policemen in the Sinai Peninsula last year and for collaborating with Al Qaeda.
The policemen were killed in an ambush in August 2013 in the North Sinai town of Rafah in what was one of the deadliest militant attacks targeting security forces.
It came just weeks after the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi following mass street protests against his one-year rule.
Yesterday, the court confirmed preliminary death sentences handed down in October against the seven men, including Islamist militant Adel Habara, after they were ratified by the country’s mufti, or top Muslim cleric.
The sentences are subject to appeal. Habara previously has been convicted in several other cases, including bomb attacks in southern Sinai between 2004 and 2006, officials said. Three other suspects in last year’s ambush were sentenced to life in prison, while 22 others were jailed for
15 years. AFP
