Cairo- An Egyptian military court has sentenced on Thursday 418 supporters of the banned Muslim Brotherhood to prison terms from two years to life imprisonment for involvement in violence in 2013.
A judicial source said that the court sentenced 350 defendants in absentia to 25 years, while 68 defendants present were sentenced up to 10 years.
President Mohamed Mursi was deposed following protests sparked against him after one year of his presidency. Authorities accuse his supporters of getting involved in aggressive activities that are occurring in Egypt since then.
Egypt banned Muslim Brotherhood and recognized it as a terrorist organization in December 2013; thousands of supporters are being prosecuted for involving in aggression incidents.
In a related matter, Sinai ISIS group (previously known as Ansar Bait al-Maqdis) announced that Abu Duaa al-Ansari, the leader of the Sinai group, was killed in a military campaign conducted by the Egyptian army.
Egyptian military’s chief spokesman, Brigadier General Mohammed Samir stated that a Sinai ISIS group leader and 45 others were killed in aerial bombing on Arish.
In November 2014, Sinai group pledged allegiance to ISIS and claimed responsibility for most attacks that targeted security forces in Egypt. On the other hand, Egyptian army in cooperation with the ministry of interior is carrying out intensive campaigns to eradicate these members.
The Public Prosecution referred the defendants to military court in May, knowing that they have the right to appeal sentences.