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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Egyptian jailed for Israel spying | Egyptian jailed for Israel spying |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A Cairo court has sentenced a man with dual Egyptian-Canadian citizenship to 15 years in jail for spying. | A Cairo court has sentenced a man with dual Egyptian-Canadian citizenship to 15 years in jail for spying. |
| Mohammed al-Attar was convicted of being an agent for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. | Mohammed al-Attar was convicted of being an agent for the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad. |
| The 31-year-old had confessed to the charge, but later said the admission had been extracted under torture by Egypt's intelligence services. | The 31-year-old had confessed to the charge, but later said the admission had been extracted under torture by Egypt's intelligence services. |
| Three Israeli defendants who were being tried in absentia on related charges were also convicted. | Three Israeli defendants who were being tried in absentia on related charges were also convicted. |
| Like Attar, the trio were handed 15 year sentences and a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,700; £850) by Judge Sayyed al-Gohary of Cairo's State Security Emergency Court. | Like Attar, the trio were handed 15 year sentences and a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,700; £850) by Judge Sayyed al-Gohary of Cairo's State Security Emergency Court. |
| A former student at Cairo's al-Azhar university, 31-year-old Attar had been accused of contacting Israeli agents in Turkey and spying on expatriate Arabs there and in Canada. | A former student at Cairo's al-Azhar university, 31-year-old Attar had been accused of contacting Israeli agents in Turkey and spying on expatriate Arabs there and in Canada. |
| Homosexuality claim | Homosexuality claim |
| A transcript of his confession, which was seen by a Canadian newspaper, said he had recruited gay or impoverished Arabs in Canada for Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence branch. | A transcript of his confession, which was seen by a Canadian newspaper, said he had recruited gay or impoverished Arabs in Canada for Mossad, the Israeli foreign intelligence branch. |
| Attar denied being homosexual, although it was cited as a reason for an application he made for refugee status with the United Nations. | Attar denied being homosexual, although it was cited as a reason for an application he made for refugee status with the United Nations. |
| Speaking to reporters during one of his court appearances Attar had insisted that he was innocent and appealed to the Canadian government for help and to him with provide a lawyer. | Speaking to reporters during one of his court appearances Attar had insisted that he was innocent and appealed to the Canadian government for help and to him with provide a lawyer. |
| Officials in Israel said they had only learned about the case from the media. | |
| Human rights groups say torture, including sexual abuse, is routinely used by the Egyptian security services during interrogation of prisoners. | Human rights groups say torture, including sexual abuse, is routinely used by the Egyptian security services during interrogation of prisoners. |
| The government denies systematic abuse, but has investigated a number of high profile torture cases. | The government denies systematic abuse, but has investigated a number of high profile torture cases. |