The Cairo Criminal Court handed down seven year sentences for 13 Al-Azhar University students on Saturday morning for involvement in violent clashes at the university. The 14 were among 29 defendants; the remaining defendants included 11 minors who received three year sentences, another was handed a five year sentence, two received a one year suspended sentence and two others were acquitted, according to state-owned Al-Ahram. The students faced charges of illegally gathering, a show of force and violence against citizens, assaulting university staff and sabotaging a university administrative building to create chaos. Al-Azhar Universty has been a focal point for demonstrations against the security forces and the government. Many of the demonstrations have been in support of deposed President Mohamed Morsi, who was ousted last July. In May, 36 other Al-Azhar students were sentenced to four years in prison having been found guilty of participating in violent acts during protests at the university. Sixteen Al-Azhar students were sentenced to three years each in March in connection with clashes that occurred in December 2013. Twelve Al-Azhar students were sentenced to seventeen years in November 2013, in a case the Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression said was against the law.
