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DATE=4/18/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-248265
TITLE=EGYPT/MILITANTS (S/L)
BYLINE=RICHARD ENGEL
DATELINE=CAIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  IN EGYPT SUNDAY, A MILITARY COURT HANDED OUT SENTENCES TO
87 PEOPLE CONVICTED OF TERRORISM.  TWENTY OTHERS WERE ACQUITTED. 
RICHARD ENGEL REPORTS FROM CAIRO THAT NINE MEN WERE SENTENCED TO 
DEATH FOLLOWING THE COUNTRY'S LARGEST TRIAL OF ISLAMIC MILITANTS.
TEXT:  AS THE MILITARY JUDGE READ OUT THE SENTENCES THE 
DEFENDANTS WAITED SILENTLY IN A METAL CAGE IN THE COURT ROOM.  IN
ADDITION TO THE NINE DEATH SENTENCES, THE COURT GAVE 11 
DEFENDANTS LIFE TERMS.  THE REMAINDER RECEIVED AN AVERAGE OF 
15-YEARS IN PRISON WITH HARD LABOR.
WHEN THE JUDGE FINISHED, THE DEFENDANTS CHEERED AND JUMPED TO 
THEIR FEET, SHOUTING ISLAMIC SLOGANS.  THEY SAID THOSE SENTENCED 
TO BE HANGED WOULD BE CONSIDERED MARTYRS.
SIXTY OF THE THE DEFENDANTS, INCLUDING ALL THOSE GIVEN THE DEATH 
PENALTY, WERE TRIED AND SENTENCED IN ABSENTIA.  THE MAIN CHARGE 
AGAINST THE MILITANTS WAS THAT THEY BELONGED TO THE AL JIHAD 
TERRORIST GROUP THAT ASSASSINATED EGYPT'S PRESIDENT ANWAR SADAT 
IN 1981.  THE GROUP'S AFGHANISTAN-BASED LEADERSHIP HAS ALSO BEEN 
LINKED TO THE BOMBINGS OF U-S EMBASSIES IN KENYA AND TANZANIA 
LAST AUGUST.
HUMAN RIGHTS ORGANIZATION PROTESTED THROUGHOUT THE TRIAL THAT THE
DEFENDANTS HAD BEEN TORTURED AND DENIED ACCESS TO THEIR LAWYERS.
                    /// REST OPT FOR LONG ///
IN EGYPT, MILITARY COURTS HAVE LONG BEEN USED TO TRY CIVILIANS IN
THE GOVERNMENT'S WAR AGAINST TERRORISM.  MORE THAN 12-HUNDRED 
PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED SINCE 1992 WHEN ISLAMIC MILITANTS BEGAN 
USING VIOLENT ATTACKS AS PART OF THEIR STRATEGY TO OVERTHROW THE 
GOVERNMENT AND IMPOSE A STRICT ISLAMIC STATE. 
OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM, FAMILY MEMBERS WAITED ANXIOUSLY TO HEAR 
THE VERDICTS.  SOME OF THE WOMEN BEGAN TO SCREAM AND BEAT THEIR 
FACES WHEN THEY LEARNED THEY WOULD NEVER SEE THEIR HUSBANDS AND 
SONS AGAIN.   (SIGNED) 
NEB/RHE/DW/RAE
18-Apr-99 11:55 AM EDT (1555 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.