Egyptian court jails 102 Islamists for 10 years

Criminal court sentences Muslim Brotherhood supporters for arms possession, rioting after Morsi’s ouster

By AP 3 May 2014, 4:05 pm

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An Egyptian criminal court has sentenced 102 defendants it describes as Muslim Brotherhood supporters to 10 years in prison each on charges of violent rioting in a Cairo neighborhood and possession of weapons.

Egypt’s state news agency said the Saturday ruling puts the defendants under police surveillance for a period of five years after the end of their prison sentences. Two other defendants were jailed for seven years in the case.

The ruling is linked to demonstrations staged to protest the overthrow of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi by the military in July. Morsi’s ouster followed days of mass demonstrations demanding his resignation.

The prosecutors charged the defendants with gathering illegally with intent to inflict material and moral harm to others and public property, which led to one death.