Egypt court sentences 529 of total 1,200 Morsi supporters to death
24 March 2014, 13:44 -- A court in Egypt has sentenced to death already 529 supporters of ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi. They were convicted of charges which included murder of a policeman and attacks on people and property. The group, members of the banned Muslim Brotherhood, are part of a larger trial of more than 1,200 Morsi supporters.
Egyptian authorities have cracked down harshly on Islamists since Mr Morsi was removed by the military in July. Hundreds have been killed and thousands arrested.
The Muslim Brotherhood's general guide Mohammed Badie was among those convicted.
The court in Minya, south of the capital, Cairo, issued its ruling after only two sessions in which the defendants' lawyers complained they had no chance to present their case.
They were convicted, among other charges, of the murder of the deputy commander of the Matay district police station.
More than 150 suspects were in court for the trial - the others were convicted in absentia.
The court also acquitted other 16 defendants.
The attacks took place in southern Egypt in August after security forces broke up two camps of pro-Morsi supporters in Cairo, killing hundreds of people.
Ex-president Morsi was ousted by the military last July following mass street protests against his government. He himself is facing four separate trials.
Since that there has been a severe crackdown on his Muslim Brotherhood group, as well as on other activists seen as hostile to the military-backed interim government.
The Brotherhood has been declared a terrorist organisation and authorities have punished any public show of support for it.
A second group of 700 Morsi supporters is to face trial on Tuesday.
Egypt court sentences 528 Morsi supporters to death-judicial sources
An Egyptian court sentences to death 528 supporters of toppled president Mohammed Morsi, state media report.
They were found guilty of charges ranging from rioting to attacking police facilities in the southern city of Minya, state television said. Seventeen defendants were acquitted.
Voice of Russia, BBC, Reuters
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