Alexandria's criminal court on Wednesday handed out jail sentences of five to 10 years to 86 supporters of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi on charges of murder, attempted murder and rioting, judicial sources said. Sources said the verdict is in connection to clashes during mass protests last July when military chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi called for nationwide rallies to mandate the armed forces and police to crackdown on "violence and terrorism," following a series of violent clashes across the country in the aftermath of Morsi's ouster. The court on Wednesday also charged the defendants with torturing people inside the local mosque of Qaed Ibrahim – a rally point for pro-Morsi demonstrations – as well as possessing weapons, joining a banned group, throwing Molotov cocktails, killing nine people and injuring others. The defendants were further accused of "terrorising the people participating in the peaceful protests supporting 30 June 2013," according to the general prosecution's statement. Ten people were sentenced to 10 years in jail, 12 were given seven years and 56 others got five years. The court also ordered for all those convicted to be put under surveillance for the same period as their prison terms and fined LE15,000. Eight other defendants were acquitted. Egypt's authorities designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist group in December of last year, part of a broad crackdown on the group's supporters that has killed hundreds and placed thousands in jail. Morsi himself along with the group's top leadership are currently facing trials on a variety of charges, some of which could carry the death penalty. http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/101309.aspx
