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Eight referred to Egypt's Grand Mufti for opinion on death sentences
The burnt and destroyed Evangelical Church are seen in Mallawi at Minya governorate, about 245 km (152 miles) south of Cairo August 17, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer
CAIRO, Aug 9 (Aswat Masriya) - A court in the Upper Egyptian city of Minya referred the files of 8 people to the Egyptian Grand Mufti on Sunday for accusations of being involved in violence dating back to 2013.
The eight, believed to be supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, were facing trial alongside 111 others. The court set September 4 as the verdict date.
Consulting Egypt's Grand Mufti is a procedural step adopted in all cases which involve death sentences. The Mufti's rulings are not binding, yet it is customary for the court to adopt them.
The defendants face multiple charges, including "murder and attempted murder", as well as show of force and "joining a terrorist group."
They were brought to trial for violence that broke out in Minya in August 2013. The violence erupted when two encampment organised in late June 2013 to show solidarity with and support for ousted president Mohamed Mursi, were forcibly dispersed.
Both encampments were dispersed on August 14, 2013, leaving hundreds of protesters dead. This was described by Human Rights Watch as "the most serious incident of mass unlawful killings in modern Egyptian history."
Egypt listed the Brotherhood as a terrorist organisation in December 2013 and insists it is behind the wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since July 2013.
The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations.
Since Mursi's ouster, Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members have often found themselves behind bars where they either serve time or await trial verdicts.
Mursi himself has been sentenced to death in a prison escape trial and to life in prison for an espionage case in June, both by the same judge.
In April, the former president was found guilty of show of force and detention associated with physical torture of protesters during deadly protests in 2012. He was sentenced to 20 years of maximum security prison.
