The Mansoura criminal court sentenced four defendants to death and nine to life imprisonment over funding a terrorist cell to eliminate the opponents of the banned Muslim Brotherhood (MB) group.

The life imprisonment terms were issued in absentia except for one defendant, a Palestinian national, in custody. They are convicted of forming a terrorist cell to kill MB opponents in Mansoura and receiving training abroad.

The court had already sentenced the four to death in March but was waiting for the Mufti's opinion on the case before pronouncing the final verdict today.

Consulting Egypt's Mufti is a procedural step adopted in all cases which involve death sentences.

The Mufti's opinions are not binding.