Three Britons jailed over banned Islamic group

26 people, including three Britons, were jailed for five years in Cairo today on charges of trying to revive an outlawed Islamic group.

Ian Malcolm Nisbett, Maajid Nawaz and Reza Pankhurst were among the group first arrested in Egypt in April 2002.

Following the sentencing, all 26 burst into shouts of “God is Great, thanks be to God!”

All the defendants were accused of attempting to revive Hizb-ut-Tahrir – or Islamic Liberation Party – which was banned by the Egyptian government after an alleged failed coup in 1974.

Sentences ranged from one to five years, but all three Britons were given five years.