The Qasr al-Nil Misdemeanor Court on Saturday sentenced 15 supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsy to two years in prison and a LE50,000 fine for each over charges of rioting and violence at Cairo's Tahrir Square last month.
Defense lawyers had argued that the case's files failed to provide any evidence to charges of sabotage and assaults on police against members of Ultras Thawragy, a protest group affiliated with the Muslim Brothehood. The lawyers also challenged the warrantless arrests of the defendants, the soundness of investigations and conflicting police officers’ testimonies.
Eighteen other minors had been referred to a juvenile court in relation to the same incidents which occurred while the country was voting on its current constitution, which Morsy supporters deemed illegitimate.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
