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Muslim Brotherhood supporters march in Egypt, protesting the overthrow of Mohamad Morsi

An Egyptian court sentenced 11 more members of the Muslim Brotherhood to life in prison for violence against the army on Tueday, September 3.

The verdict was entered in response to the widespread protests on August 14 by pro-Morsi forces in the city of Suez, following the crackdown on protests in Cairo. The name of the prisoners given life sentences has not been released.  A life sentence in Egypt carries a maximum of 25 years in prison, according to the Daily News of Egypt.

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Nearly 50 other Muslim Brotherhood defendants were found guilty of lesser charges and received five year sentences, while several were acquitted of all charges.

Charges against the defendants included murder and attempted murder of security forces and of civilians, destruction of public property including churches and military vehicles, and spreading chaos. Nearly 30 people were killed in the violence.

Four additional leading members of the Brotherhood were arrested on Tuesday.

On Sunday, September 1, former Egyptian president and Muslim Brotherhood member Mohamad Morsi was charged with inciting violence which led to the deaths of at least seven people during clashes between opposition protesters and Brotherhood supporters outside the Ittihadiya presidential palace in Cairo in December, 2012.

 

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Lori Lowenthal Marcus is a contributor to the JewishPress.com. A graduate of Harvard Law School, she previously practiced First Amendment law and taught in Philadelphia-area graduate and law schools. You can reach her by email: [email protected]