Cairo Court Sentences 16 Morsi Supporters To 3 Years In Prison

The Heliopolis Misdemeanour Court sentenced on Sunday 16 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi to three years in prison on charges related to an illegal protest in Al-Marghany Street, east of Cairo.

The defendants are accused of rioting, protesting without a permit and obstructing the national referendum on the constitution, which was passed last January.

The court has acquitted another defendant in the case.

Hundreds of protesters, including prominent activists, have been handed hefty jail terms and fines since Egyptian authorities passed a strict protest law last November banning all demonstrations not pre-sanctioned by the police.

A security crackdown on Morsi supporters has left hundreds dead and thousands in jail or facing trials, including Morsi himself and his Muslim Brotherhood group’s top leadership.

Source : Ahram online