For the past three decades, Egypt has witnessed dozens of scenes similar to the one that took place in the state security court in the Suez Canal-side town of Ismailiya at the end of last month. A handful of bearded, white-clad militants, penned together in the defendant's cage, shout out Islamic slogans in defiance as heavy prison sentences, or in some cases of death, is passed upon them. Veiled relatives outside a ring of security troops guarding the court burst into tears as the news is passed to them. Egyptian human rights groups denounce the verdicts, issued by a special martial law tribunal and based largely on confessions that may have been obtained under torture, and call for a retrial.

Such was the predictable ending to the 17-month-long trial of alleged Islamic militants accused of crimes in connection with bomb attacks in Sinai beach resorts in 2004 and 2005. Of the 13 defendants, all but two of whom were added mid-trial in a move that defence lawyers contend was improper, three were sentenced to hang. The others received prison sentences of between five years and life. As the case was tried under the special emergency state security court, authorised by the emergency law in effect in Egypt continuously since 1981, there will be no appeal. Only President Hosni Mubarak can order a retrial or alter the verdict.