CAIRO, Jun 7 (Aswat Masriya) – An Egyptian criminal court sentenced on Tuesday 26 defendants to death over tribal violence that took place in Aswan in 2014.

The events date back to April 2014 when clashes occurred between members of the two tribes of al-Halayal and al-Dabodeya and lasted for several days. A quarrel between students at a school resulted in the death of 28 individuals belonging to both tribes and the injury of others.

The tribes had reached a truce after the violent clashes. Egypt’s then-Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb paid a visit to Aswan at the time and ordered the formation of a fact-finding committee to investigate the violence.

The former prosecutor general had referred 163 defendants to trial in the case. They were accused of murder, attempted murder, possession of weapons without a license and intimidating citizens.  

Earlier in May, the court referred the files of 26 defendants to the Grand Mufti for his opinion on the death sentences.

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 court also sentenced 21 defendants to life, three defendants to 15 years in prison, while others received sentences ranging from ten years to two years imprisonment. It acquitted 100 defendants, 47 of whom belong to the al-Halayel tribe and 53 belong to al-Dabodeya tribe.

The verdict is subject to appeal by Egypt’s Court of Cassation.