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Egypt appeal court orders pro-Morsi protest women freed Pro-Morsi protest women freed after Egypt court ruling
(about 4 hours later)
An appeals court in Egypt has ordered the release of 21 women, including seven juveniles, who were jailed last month over a protest in support of ousted President Mohammed Morsi. Fourteen women jailed in Egypt over a protest in support of ousted President Mohammed Morsi have been freed after an appeal court ruling.
The minors were placed on a three-month-long probation. The appeals court also reduced 11-year sentences given to 14 women to a suspended year-long term. Seven juveniles jailed over the protest last month in Alexandria have also been released, on three months' probation.
They were found guilty of belonging to a terrorist group, obstructing traffic, sabotage and using force last month. The women's 11-year sentence was cut to one year, suspended.
Rights groups criticised the verdict. Human rights groups had attacked the convictions - on charges of belonging to a terrorist group, obstructing traffic, sabotage and using force.
One campaigner described it as madness.One campaigner described it as madness.
The 14 women appeared inside the special cage in the Alexandria courtroom dressed in prison-issue white and holding red roses. Reducing the sentences on Saturday, Judge Sharif Hafiz nevertheless convicted the 14 women of three counts relating to violence during the protest.
They had written the word "freedom" on their palms. Their supporters in the courtroom chanted, "God is great", as the verdicts were announced. The women's lawyer said they would appeal against the new sentence too.
There was a heavy police presence outside the court complex.
Hefty sentencesHefty sentences
The women and girls had taken part in an early morning demonstration in support of Mr Morsi. For the appeal hearing, the 14 women appeared inside a special cage in the Alexandria courtroom dressed in prison-issue white and holding red roses.
They had written the word "freedom" on their palms. Their supporters in the courtroom chanted, "God is great", as the verdicts were announced.
The women's lawyer, Ahmed al-Hamrawy, urged the court to acquit them, arguing there was no evidence against them.
"Even in Mubarak's era there were morals," he said. "Egypt's women and girls were a red line and they weren't placed on trial."
In November, the women and girls took part in an early morning demonstration in support of Mr Morsi.
Relatives say it was the first protest by the group - called the 7am Movement - and that it was peaceful.Relatives say it was the first protest by the group - called the 7am Movement - and that it was peaceful.
Prosecutors had accused the women of fighting with knives and throwing stones during clashes that erupted at the protest, AFP news agency reports.
The father of a 15-year-old girl told the BBC he would take legal action to have the conviction quashed as his daughter and her mother were innocent passers-by.The father of a 15-year-old girl told the BBC he would take legal action to have the conviction quashed as his daughter and her mother were innocent passers-by.
The women had expected to be sentenced to a month in jail at most at their trial last month.The women had expected to be sentenced to a month in jail at most at their trial last month.
Their sentence was longer than that given to some convicted killers, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo. Their original sentence was longer than that given to some convicted killers, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo.
The verdict was condemned by human rights campaigners in Egypt as blatantly political, our correspondent says.The verdict was condemned by human rights campaigners in Egypt as blatantly political, our correspondent says.
Hundreds of people have also been killed in clashes since July when Mr Morsi's removal sparked widespread protests.Hundreds of people have also been killed in clashes since July when Mr Morsi's removal sparked widespread protests.