38 Morsi Supporters Given 15 Years In Prison For Storming Metro Station

Shubra’s Criminal Court, held at Cairo’s Police Academy, has sentenced 38 supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi to 15 years in prison for storming a Giza metro station.

The defendants broke into Koleyet Al-Zeraa metro station last December. They were charged with sabotaging and obstruction of public property, possession of weapons, resisting authorities and belonging to a banned group that aims to obstruct the state’s institutions.

Morsi’s supporters have refused to acknowledge Egypt’s interim authorities and have held near-daily demonstrations in the 10 months following the Islamist president’s overthrow, often ending in violent confrontations with police and their political opponents.

Thousands of Brotherhood members and supporters, including Morsi himself and the group’s top leadership, are currently detained or facing trial on a variety of charges, some of which could lead to the death penalty.

The Brotherhood was labelled a terrorist organisation by Egypt’s interim government in December 2013.

Source : Ahram online