Egyptian Court retries defendants in murder of Shia preacher Sheikh Hassan Shaata

The Second Circuit for Terrorism at the Egyptian Supreme State Security Court announced today, Thursday, the retrial of two defendants in the murder of the Shia preacher Sheikh Hassan Shaata, may God have mercy upon him, which took place in 2013, and is known in the media as the “Shia Sedition”.

According to local media outlets followed by Shia Waves Agency, the defendants, Abdul Wahab Ashour and Hassan Mohamed Qandoul, are accused of killing Sheikh Shaata, along with three of his sons and followers.

The Egyptian prosecution says that the defendants surrounded the victims with sharp weapons and Molotov cocktails, and then attacked them with beatings and stabbings.

Sheikh Hassan Shaata was a prominent Shia leader in Egypt. He was known for his love and loyalty to Ahlulbayt, peace be upon them, and was an active dependent of Shia Muslims within Egypt. He also used to hold mourning ceremonies over the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein, peace be upon him.