Libyan court sentences 23 suspected Islamic State members to death

2023-05-29 17:26:02

CAIRO (AP) — A Libyan court on Monday sentenced 23 suspected members of the Islamic State extremist group to death for launching attacks that killed dozens of people, including Egyptian Coptic Christians.

The appeals court in the western city of Misrata also sentenced 14 other militants to life imprisonment who were found guilty of the same charges, which include destruction of police facilities and public property.

He also sentenced nine defendants to between three and 12 years in prison. He cleared five suspects.

The court gave no further details.

Islamic State and other extremist groups took advantage of the chaos in Libya following the 2011 uprising that it toppled and killed dictator Muammar Gaddafi. These groups seized the coastal city of Sirte, Gaddafi’s birthplace, and other cities, including Derna, in eastern Libya.

The militants were ultimately expelled from Sirte in December 2016 by forces fighting with UN backing.

Hundreds of suspected ex-ISIS fighters remain incarcerated in Libyan prisons, many awaiting trial.

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