An Egyptian court sentenced on Saturday 300 loyalists of the
currently-blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood group of former Islamist
President Mohamed Morsi from three to 10 years in prison over violence
charges, official MENA news agency reported.
Zagazig Criminal Court in Sharqiya province, Morsi’s hometown,
sentenced 31 to 10 years and 269 to three years after being convicted of
inciting and committing acts of violence, possessing weapons and
belonging to the Brotherhood group.
Meanwhile, another criminal court in Giza, near the capital Cairo,
delayed the trial of 379 Brotherhood members and supporters over weapon
possession, murder and vandalism charges during a 2013 pro-Morsi sit-in
to Oct. 18 to enable their lawyers to read the case and prepare for
defense.
Morsi was removed by the military in July 2013 after mass protests
against his one-year rule. His Muslim Brotherhood group was eventually
designated as “a terrorist group” after growing terror activities
prevailed in the country following Morsi’s ouster.
Earlier in June, a court confirmed the death sentence against Morsi
over mass jailbreak during the 2011 uprising that toppled long-time
ex-leader Hosni Mubarak, besides handing mass death sentences to other
Brotherhood members and supporters.
In
its annual report released in late May, Egypt’s National Council for
Human Rights said that the violence since Morsi’s removal has resulted
in the death of 2,600 people, including 700 police and army men, 550
civilians and 1,250 Brotherhood members and supporters.
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