Egyption Court issues prison sentences against Brotherhood's leaders

Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday sentenced two leaders of the outlawed organization, the Muslim Brotherhood, to 20 years in prison for kidnapping and torturing two police officers.
The court issued the imprisonment verdict against Mohammad Al-Baltaji and Safwat Hijazi after they were convicted of abducting the two officers, holding and subjecting them to torture at Rabaa Al-Adawiah in eastern Cairo. They were also found guilty for being affiliated to a "terrorist organization." The leading members, along with two doctors, were also sentenced to serve 10 years behind bars for kidnapping two security personnel and torturing them at a rally site in Rabaa, that was venue for the Brotherhood protests.
Al-Baltaji and Hijazi received another 10-year imprisonment verdict for leading "a terrorist organization, undermining state institutions and national unity." The Muslim Brotherhood had staged public protests after ouster of the former president, Mohamad Morsi, in 2013. (end) rg.rk