Dozens of Morsi supporters sentenced to heavy prison terms

An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced twenty-three supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi to heavy prison terms for violent protests in 2013 that erupted when the military overthrew the Islamist leader, judicial officials said, reports the Patria news agency.

Fifteen of them were sentenced to life imprisonment, which in Egypt means 25 years in prison, for violent protests in which three civilians were killed on July 5, 2013, near the public television building in the center of the capital, two officials said.

They were found guilty of "premeditated murder", "use of weapons" and "association" for the purpose of committing a criminal act, the officials added, stating that three defendants were sentenced to 15 years in prison and five to 10 years in the same proceeding, writes Index.