CAIRO: Egypt’s oldest political prisoner died at the Manial University Hospital, south of Cairo, Egyptian Ministry of Interior announced Thursday.
“Nabil al-Maghrabi, 74, died of cancer in the hospital where he was transported 10 days ago after his health deteriorated,” an official from the ministry told Youm7.
Maghrabi is one of 68 defendants charged with belonging to a “terrorist cell” led by Mohamed al-Zawahiri; brother of al-Qaeda current leader Ayman al-Zawahiri.
During his trial session on May 16, Maghrabi suffered an ailment and was transported to the hospital.
Maghrabi was arrested in 1981 over charges of involvement in killing the late President Mohamed Anwar al-Sadat. He was sentenced to life before he, along with dozens of Islamist prisoners, was released following the January 25 uprising.
Maghrabi was rearrested in October 2013 over charges including an assassination attempt of Egypt’s former Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim.