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Egypt mass trial sees hundreds imprisoned over 2013 protests | Egypt mass trial sees hundreds imprisoned over 2013 protests |
(35 minutes later) | |
Forty-three people have been sentenced to life in prison after a mass trial in Egypt that also saw years-long sentences given to hundreds of others. | Forty-three people have been sentenced to life in prison after a mass trial in Egypt that also saw years-long sentences given to hundreds of others. |
Almost 500 people were charged with crimes over the violence which erupted following the removal of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. | Almost 500 people were charged with crimes over the violence which erupted following the removal of President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. |
Three hundred of those on trial received sentences ranging from five to 15 years. | Three hundred of those on trial received sentences ranging from five to 15 years. |
Fifty-four people were acquitted, including Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa. | Fifty-four people were acquitted, including Irish citizen Ibrahim Halawa. |
Mr Halawa was aged 17 when he was arrested and says he was tortured during his more than four-year imprisonment. | |
A US citizen, Ahmed Etiwy, was among those sentenced to five years in prison. | A US citizen, Ahmed Etiwy, was among those sentenced to five years in prison. |
The mass trial was held in a courtroom at Wadi al-Natroun prison north of Cairo, human rights group Amnesty International says. | The mass trial was held in a courtroom at Wadi al-Natroun prison north of Cairo, human rights group Amnesty International says. |
The defendants faced a range of charges, including killing 44 people, breaking into a mosque, and possessing firearms, following rallies in support of the ousted Mr Morsi in August 2013. | The defendants faced a range of charges, including killing 44 people, breaking into a mosque, and possessing firearms, following rallies in support of the ousted Mr Morsi in August 2013. |
What's become of Egypt's Morsi? | What's become of Egypt's Morsi? |
Hundreds of protesters and dozens of security personnel died when security forces broke up pro-Morsi gatherings. | Hundreds of protesters and dozens of security personnel died when security forces broke up pro-Morsi gatherings. |
In the months that followed, there was a crackdown on the former president's supporters, and on the Muslim Brotherhood group to which he belongs, which Egypt later declared a "terrorist organisation". | In the months that followed, there was a crackdown on the former president's supporters, and on the Muslim Brotherhood group to which he belongs, which Egypt later declared a "terrorist organisation". |
Thousands of people have been arrested since. | Thousands of people have been arrested since. |
In the latest mass trial, all defendants had faced a possible death penalty, but instead: | In the latest mass trial, all defendants had faced a possible death penalty, but instead: |
It remains unclear exactly what sentences the others received. | It remains unclear exactly what sentences the others received. |
Amnesty International labelled the mass trial "utterly disgraceful" and accused the court of "sham proceedings". | Amnesty International labelled the mass trial "utterly disgraceful" and accused the court of "sham proceedings". |
It claimed that out of 330 defendants who had been imprisoned for more than four years, there was only evidence against two of them. | It claimed that out of 330 defendants who had been imprisoned for more than four years, there was only evidence against two of them. |
"These proceedings expose the deep flaws in Egypt's notorious criminal justice system," the group's North Africa campaign spokesperson, Najia Bounaim, said. | "These proceedings expose the deep flaws in Egypt's notorious criminal justice system," the group's North Africa campaign spokesperson, Najia Bounaim, said. |
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