Egypt sentences 69 Muslim Brotherhood loyalists to life

Cairo, April 29: An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced 69 supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood (MB) group to life in prison over the burning a church in 2013, a media report said on Wednesday.

The Giza criminal court has also sentenced two juveniles to 10 years in prison in the same case, state-run MENA news agency reported.

The case dates back to August 2013, when dozens of MB loyalists vandalised public property, including the church, and stormed the police station in Kerdasa town, Giza, killing 11 policemen and two civilians.

In addition to the arson charge, the defendants were also charged with attempted murder and violence following the dispersal of both the Rabaa (Cairo) and al-Nahda (Giza) sit-ins.

The assaults took place shortly after police forces cracked down on the two main sit-ins in Cairo and Giza.

The sit-ins were organised by supporters of former Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, who was toppled by the army in July 2013 following mass protests against his one-year rule.

In October last year, an Egyptian court sentenced 188 defendants to death over the murder of 11 policemen in the Kerdasa police station.

However, the sentences have not been processed and can be appealed.

IANS