Cairo: At least 41 Muslim Brotherhood supporters were sentenced today from one to 15 years in prison in Egypt for torching five churches, the Judges Club and commercial shops during clashes with the country's army in August last year.
Out of 102 defendants, 41 Muslim Brotherhood supporters have been sentenced in Assiut, Upper Egypt, from one year to 15 years in prison, and fined USD 1,15,000 for demolishing public buildings, according to Assiut Court officials.
The remaining 61 defendants have been acquitted.
The violent acts took place on August 14 last year shortly after the dispersal of crowds supporting deposed former President Mohamed Morsi from Cairo and Giza, that left hundreds dead.
The defendants were also accused of belonging to an outlawed group and disturbing public security.
The Egyptian government has been cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood supporters, since the ouster of Mohamed Morsi last year.
Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood members have been rounded up and put on trial since the army deposed the Islamist leader last year following massive street protests against his rule.
In March, 529 Muslim Brotherhood members were sentenced to death for killing a police officer last year.
Morsi himself is currently in prison over charges of killing peaceful protesters, espionage, escaping from prison during the January 25 Revolution in 2011 and insulting the judiciary.
He was also charged of spying and handing documents of national security to foreign intelligence.
Morsi has not been sentenced in any case so far.
