EGYPT: EGYPT SENTENCES TWELVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE BRITONS, TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PROMOTING ILLEGAL ISLAMIC GROUP
Record ID:
647083
EGYPT: EGYPT SENTENCES TWELVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE BRITONS, TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PROMOTING ILLEGAL ISLAMIC GROUP
- Title: EGYPT: EGYPT SENTENCES TWELVE PEOPLE, INCLUDING THREE BRITONS, TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON FOR PROMOTING ILLEGAL ISLAMIC GROUP
- Date: 25th March 2004
- Summary: (U3) CAIRO, EGYPT (MARCH 24, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV/SV EXTERIOR VIEWS OF HIGH COURT (3 SHOTS) 0.08 2. SLV OF SECURITY FORCES 0.12 3. SLV/SV PRISONERS COMING OUT OF SECURITY FORCES VEHICLE, SHOUTING: "GOD IS GREAT; NO GOD BUT ALLAH" (3 SHOTS) 0.48 4. SV PRISONERS GOING INSIDE COURTROOM, HOLDING THE KORAN AND SHOUTING: "GOD IS GREAT; NO GOD BUT ALLAH" (3 SHOTS) 1.12 5. MCU (English) WIFE OF BRITISH PRISONER IAN NISBETT, SAYING "These two years have actually been quite a farce. This whole case, from the beginning to the end, has been quite a farcical case, because well, these men, they've been tortured, persecuted, they've been imprisoned for two years and two years on we're still no nearer to a verdict. I mean we're standing here today and it's been eight months since the trial officially finished and we're still waiting for a verdict so we're not sure whether the judge will actually give a verdict today or not. But, whether he gives a verdict or not, I do believe that this is actually a victory for these men. It's a victory because this shows that this regime, it persecuted innocent people, people that carry the Islamic belief, in a peaceful and intellectual manner, cause that's all these men do. So what they've been persecuted for is the very thoughts that they carry and nothing more." 1.58 6. MCU (English) ZAHRA, MOTHER OF ONE OF THE PRISONERS, SAYING: "To be quite honest, the trial so far has not inspired any trust in us, so we just hope the the judge, the verdict will restore some of the trust. So we are prepared for anything, we are hoping for the best, but we can't say really because as I say we don't have any trust in the system." 2.19 8. SV OF EXTERIOR OF COURTROOM 2.24 9. SLV SECURITY FORCES STANDING GUARD OUTSIDE THE COURT ROOM 2.30 10. LV PRISONERS COMING OUT OF COURTROOM AFTER HEARING THE VERDICT, SHOUTING: "GOD IS GREAT; NO GOD BUT ALLAH" 3.24 11. MCU (English) UNIDENTIFIED REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE BRITISH EMBASSY SAYING "Throughout we have offered every consular assistance to them. We've had numerous visits by consular officials, we've also attended the sessions of the trial as it's taken place. The verdict today I think is one that the families will have to reflect on. The next step is that we wait for the written determination of the verdict as such, that will give the reasons for the sentence which has been handed down." 3.47 12. SV RELATIVE OF ONE OF THE EGYPTIAN PRISONERS SHOUTING AFTER HEARING THE VERDICT (2 SHOTS) 4.00 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 9th April 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
- Country: Egypt
- Reuters ID: LVAALSSIN55PVQU770E5LKH87W9I
- Story Text: Egypt sentences twelve people, including three
Britons, to five years in prison for promoting illegal
Islamic group.
Egypt sentenced 26 people including three Britons to
prison sentences on Thursday (March 25) for promoting the
goals of an illegal Islamist group.
The men were charged in 2002 as suspected members of
Hizb ut-Tahrir al-Islami (Islamic Liberation Party), which
says it aims to transform a corrupt society into an Islamic
society.
The three Britons Reza Pankhurst, Maajid Nawaz and Ian
Nisbett and nine other people were sentenced to five years
in prison. Seven Egyptians were sentenced to three years in
jail and seven received one-year sentences in the same case,
Judge Ahmed Ezzat el-Ashmawi told the state security court.
He did not read out the charges.
Nisbett's wife said earlier on Thursday (March 25),
before the verdict was disclosed, that the trial remained a
victory for the prisoners.
"Whether he gives a verdict or not, I do believe that
this is actually a victory for these men. It's a victory
because this shows that this regime, it persecuted innocent
people, people that carry the Islamic belief, in a peaceful
and intellectual manner, cause that's all these men do. So
what they've been persecuted for is the very thoughts that
they carry and nothing more," she said.
A British Embassy official said the Britons were all
charged with promoting the goals of Hizb ut-Tahrir
al-Islami.
The possibility of an appeal would depend on the
written explanation of the verdict, the official said.
"The verdict today I think is one that the families
will have to reflect on. The next step is that we wait for
the written determination of the verdict as such, that will
give the reasons for the sentence which has been handed
down," a British embassy official said.
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