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Egypt court sentences 63 Brotherhood supporters over violence

by Reuters
Thursday, 9 January 2014 12:17 GMT

(Adds detail and background)

CAIRO, Jan 9 (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced 63 Muslim Brotherhood supporters to three years in jail each on Thursday on charges including rioting, thuggery and weapons possession, a judicial source said.

It was the biggest number of Brotherhood supporters sentenced in one case since the army-backed authorities began cracking down on the movement after former President Mohamed Mursi was deposed in July.

The judge set a bail of 5,000 Egyptian pounds ($720) which allows them to avoid prison while they appeal the verdict. The ruling also includes a fine of 50,000 pounds per person.

In a separate case, another 24 Brotherhood supporters were also sentenced to three years in prison, with labour, over clashes around the same time in a different part of Cairo.

The charges against them included rioting, illegal gathering, attacking the police and belonging to an armed terrorist gang.

The government accuses the Brotherhood of turning to violence since the army deposed Mursi after mass protests against his rule. The group says it is committed to peaceful protest. ($1 = 6.9562 Egyptian pounds) (Writing by Tom Perry; Editing by Ralph Boulton)

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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