CAIRO: A prominent leader of a hardline Islamist group that backed ousted Egyptian president Mohammed Mursi has died in jail in Cairo, the interior ministry said on Sunday.
It said Essam Derbala, a senior leader in Gamaa Islamiya, died on Saturday after returning from a hearing at his trial.
Gamaa Islamiya blamed the prison authorities for his death.
Police had arrested the 58-year-old in May on charges of inciting violence and joining a pro-Mursi opposition alliance.
A medical check-up showed Derbala had a fever, low blood pressure and diabetes, the ministry statement said, adding that he had a history of diabetes and also previously suffered strokes.
“While being taken to the hospital he started bleeding from the nose, and suffered low blood pressure and breathlessness that led to his death,” it said.