Zawahry, 67 co-defendants sentenced to 1 yr for insulting judge

The South Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Thursday Mohamed Rabei el-Zawahry, brother of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman el-Zawahry, and 67 co-defendants to one-year in prison for insulting the presiding judge during their trial in which they face charges of forming an “Al-Qaeda-related terrorist organization,” Youm7 reported.
 
During Thursday’s trial, the prosecution presented a report to the court about Zawahry’s receiving 19 visits; Zawahry talked inside the glass cage saying “all visits were after permission from the prosecution.”
 
The Judge Mohamed Sherin Fahmy replied “the court did not allow you to speak;” Zawahry refused to stop talking and asked to defend himself, causing chaos in the court.
 
Some of defendants shouted at Fahmy, “O tyrant, we do not want to attend the trial, criminal,” the judge sentenced all defendants to one year in jail.
 
The defendants face charges of forming a terrorist group related to Al-Qaeda in order to target state institutions, armed forces, police personnel, Copts and civilians. Of the total 67 defendants, 50 including Zawahry, attended the trial; the other 17 are being tried in absentia.