An Egyptian court on Wednesday confirmed the <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2022/06/28/death-sentence-for-man-found-guilty-of-naira-ashraf-murder-in-egypt/" target="_blank">death sentence it passed a week ago against a man</a> accused of the brutal murder of a female university student in the northern city of Mansoura, a crime that caused a public outrage. The Mansoura Criminal Court last week referred the case of Mohamed Adel – who had pleaded guilty to <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/mena/egypt/2022/06/24/shock-and-grief-grips-egyptian-city-following-murder-of-university-student/" target="_blank">killing Mansoura University student Nayera Ashraf</a> – to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, a procedural step that effectively means that the court passed a death sentence. As head of the country’s highest authority on Islamic law, the Grand Mufti has the right to approve or reject the passing of a death sentence. However, his opinion is not binding. Adel has the right to appeal his death sentence before a higher court. The case has gained instant national attention because of a graphic video purporting to show Adel while slitting Ms Ashraf's throat on a busy Mansoura street was widely shared online. The crime also triggered a debate on violence against women was increasing in Egypt and what needs to be done to curb it.