The Muslim Brotherhood was founded in 1928 in Egypt by Hassan al-Banna as a religious group that preached Islam, taught those who were illiterate, and set up hospitals around the middle east. Now, 683 members and supporters of the group are being sentenced to death for charges of murder or attempted murder when policemen were killed in a riot. One of the people sentenced to death is the Brother’s leader, Mohammed Badie. When word of the death sentience broke loose, family members busted out in panic, shock, and disbelief, and even women fainting to the ground in dismay.
While waiting for the outcome of the trial, members were kept in a boxed area fenced with barbed wire, restraining them from getting free. The judge sentenced them to death, causing much popular disagreement. A number of lawyers boycotted the hearing in demand that the judge be disqualified, and referring to him as a “butcher”. Some are saying that this is a cruel and unusual way of punishing people for possibly accidentally killing some policemen, especially in the manner of implementing the death sentence on such a large group of people.
“The case killed the credibility of the Egyptian judicial system,” said Elmessiry of Amnesty International.
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