Israeli Arabs rally against Morsi death sentence

5,000 at march organized by Islamic Movement against penalty imposed on ousted Egyptian president

By AFP 23 May 2015, 9:01 pm

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Leader of the radical northern wing of the Islamic Movement in Israel, Sheikh Raed Salah (center) attends a demonstration organized by the movement against the death sentence handed to Egypt's ousted president Mohamed Morsi, in the town of Kfar Kana, in northern Israel, on May 23, 2015. (AFP/ AHMAD GHARABLI)

Thousands of Arabs marched in northern Israel on Saturday to protest against the death sentence issued in Egypt against ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

Organizers said 5,000 people took part in the demonstration led by Sheikh Raed Salah, a firebrand preacher who heads the Islamic Movement’s radical northern wing.

They marched through the Galilee village of Kufr Kana, bearing signs that read “Cut the rope of penalty” and chanting “We won’t rest till the murderer Sissi is executed”.

Morsi, who hails from the now outlawed Muslim Brotherhood, was ousted from power in July 2013 by then army chief and now President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi.

The Islamist president, whose rule lasted just one year, was among more than 100 defendants sentenced to death on May 16 for their role in a mass jailbreak during the 2011 uprising.

The Islamic Movement is tolerated in Israel but is under constant surveillance because of its perceived links with Hamas, as well as with other Muslim groups worldwide.

Saturday’s rally ended without incident.