Egyptian-Canadian man jailed for spying

A state security court today convicted an Egyptian-Canadian man of spying for Israel and sentenced him to 15 years in prison.

Three Israelis tried in their absence on spying charges also received 15 years in prison.

Mohammed el-Attar, 30, who had pleaded not guilty, flashed a victory sign when he entered the courtroom surrounded by dozens of security personnel.

“The defendant sold his country and himself to the devil,” said presiding Judge Sayed el-Gohary.

Prosecutors alleged el-Attar gave a detailed confession admitting that he collected information about Egyptians and Arabs living in Turkey and Canada in return for money from Israel.

He was also accused of receiving instructions from the three Israelis, said to be intelligence officers, to recruit Christian Egyptian immigrants in Canada using money and sex.

El-Attar was also fined 10,000 Egyptian pounds (€1,300).

His lawyer, Ibrahim el-Basyuni, called the verdict “harsh” and said he may ask President Hosni Mubarak for a pardon.

El-Attar, who was born in Egypt and has Egyptian and Canadian citizenship, told the court he confessed because he was tortured.