DHAKA: An Egyptian court sentenced Mohamed Badie, head of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, and 13 other senior members of the group to death for inciting chaos and violence.

The court also ordered a life term to a US-Egyptian citizen for ties to the Brotherhood.

The men were among thousands of people detained after freely elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi was toppled in 2013 by the military under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now the president.

Sisi describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat, reports the Times of India.

Egypt’s mass trials of Brotherhood members and people accused of links to the group, as well as its tough crackdown on Islamist and liberal opposition alike, have drawn international criticism of its judicial system and human rights record.

The sentences, pronounced at a televised court session on Saturday, can be appealed before Egypt's highest civilian court in a process that could take years before a final verdict.

US-Egyptian citizen Mohamed Soltan was sentenced to life in jail for supporting the veteran Islamist movement and transmitting false news. He is the son of Brotherhood preacher Salah Soltan, who was among those sentenced to death.

Badie is the Brotherhood's General Guide and has already been sentenced to several death and life sentences. His deputy Khairat El-Shater was given a life sentence on Saturday.

BDST: 0939 HRS, APR 12, 2015
BD