A Giza criminal court handed preliminary death sentences to 10 people on Wednesday after they were convicted of joining an outlawed group that aims to obstruct state institutions from carrying out their duties, as well as attacking state institutions from 2013 to March 2015.

The preliminary death sentence has been referred to the country’s grand mufti for a consultative non-binding opinion as per Egypt’s penal code. A final verdict will be issued on 10 March for all 16 defendants in the case, three of whom were tried in absentia.

The defendants were also charged with targeting Christians in terrorist attacks, destabilising society and planning to attack police and military personnel.