Egypt: Court sentences Wagdi Ghoneim and two others to death

Cairo - An Egyptian court just sentenced in absentia Wagdi Ghoneim, the top Muslim Brothers member, to death alongside with two others convicted. Five other defendants were sentenced to life in jail for igniting violence in Egypt back in 2013. All were charged with crimes of inciting violence that followed the overthrow of the Muslim Brotherhood leader, Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 from the presidency after mass protests against his regime. 

Ghoneim is an Egyptian-Qatary Salafi Muslim preacher and writer. He was imam at the Islamic Institute of Orange County, California, in the United States, until 2005.

He had said, prior to June 30, 2013 major protests, that whoever protests against President Mohamed Morsi is a 'Kafir' meaning 'unbeliever', or 'disbeliever.' The term alludes to a person who rejects or disbelieves in God and the teachings of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad.  Ghoneim denounced Abdel Fattah el-Sisi after Morsi was toppled.

Wagdy Ghoneim posted a video of his condolences on the blind sheikh, Omar Abdel-Rahman, upon his death last February.

He was charged with forming an illegal group from 2003 to 2015, aimed at “obstructing the constitution and state institution, assaulting citizens, and harming national unity and public order.
Ghoneim faced trial in other cases alongside former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi, including incidents of violence outside the presidential palace on December 5, 2012 (against opponents of Morsi protesting his regime).

He had also been known for making controversial remarks about Copts on TV channels. In March this year, Ghoneim was sentenced by a Cairo misdemeanors court to five years in prison on charges of incitement against Copts.

Ghoneim had reportedly been banned from entering the UK for inciting terrorism.