In a significant ruling, Egypt has sentenced eight members of the Muslim Brotherhood to death for their involvement in the tumultuous events of 2013. This verdict comes in the wake of the military’s ousting of Mohamed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected president.
The Emergency Supreme Court of State Security, located in Cairo, pronounced the death penalty for a number of individuals, including Mohamad Badie, the Brotherhood’s supreme guide.
Badie, who served as the eighth Supreme Guide of the Muslim Brotherhood from 2010 to 2013, was apprehended during the military coup against the Morsi government.
Several of those convicted had previously been sentenced to death in unrelated cases, underscoring the severity of the charges.
The accused were alleged to have conspired to overthrow the government of Abdel Fattah el Sissi, who assumed power following the ousting of Mohamed Morsi. They were also charged with the murder of police officers and the destruction of public property.
The backdrop to these events traces back to July 2013 when leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood organized a massive sit-in at Rabaa al Adawiya, denouncing the coup.
Subsequently, security forces carried out a raid on the square, resulting in the deaths of hundreds in a single day. The authorities termed this operation as a counter-terrorism measure.
Mohamed Morsi, who was incarcerated, passed away in 2019.
A History of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt
The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928 by Hassan al-Banna, has been one of the most influential and controversial political movements in the country’s modern history. Initially established as a social and religious organization aimed at promoting Islamic values and social welfare, the Brotherhood gradually evolved into a potent political force.
Under al-Banna’s leadership, the Brotherhood focused on charitable work, education, and social services, garnering support among Egyptians who were disillusioned with colonial rule and sought an alternative vision for their nation’s future.
The Brotherhood’s ideology combined elements of Islamism, populism, and anti-colonialism, resonating with a broad swath of Egyptian society. However, its growing influence also drew the ire of successive Egyptian governments, leading to periodic crackdowns and confrontations.
Despite facing repression, the Brotherhood remained resilient, operating clandestinely when necessary and gradually expanding its organizational reach. By the mid-20th century, it had become a major political player, advocating for social justice, political reform, and the implementation of Islamic law.
The Brotherhood’s rise to prominence culminated in the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, which toppled the long-serving autocrat Hosni Mubarak. In the subsequent elections, the Brotherhood’s political arm, the Freedom and Justice Party, emerged as the dominant force, securing a plurality of seats in the parliament and propelling Mohamed Morsi to the presidency.
However, Morsi’s tenure proved divisive, marked by allegations of authoritarianism, economic mismanagement, and attempts to consolidate power. His ousting in a military coup in 2013 sparked widespread unrest and violence, plunging Egypt into a period of turmoil and political uncertainty.
Since then, the Brotherhood has faced harsh repression, with thousands of its members arrested, and its activities banned. Despite these challenges, it remains a potent force in Egyptian society, with a deep-rooted network of supporters and sympathizers.
As Egypt grapples with the aftermath of Morsi’s overthrow and the broader legacy of the Arab Spring, the fate of the Muslim Brotherhood continues to be a central and contentious issue in the country’s political landscape.
