71 Islamists get life in jail for torching Egypt church

Cairo, April 29

An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced 71 Muslim Brotherhood members to life in prison for attacking and torching a church in Giza city in 2013.

The incident in the Kerdasa area took place on August 14, 2013, the day when the police dispersed two Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins in Rabaa and Nahdaa by force that left over 100 people dead.

Two other minors got 10 years in prison in the same case, local media reported.

Kerdasa witnessed the killing of 11 policemen in deadly clashes between Brotherhood members and security forces following the dispersal of the sit-ins.

The defendants were also accused of belonging to an outlawed group, possessing firearms, attempted killing, blocking of roads, resisting authorities besides torching a religious building.

Thousands of supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood leaders and members have been rounded up and put on trial since the army deposed the Islamist president in July, 2013 following massive street protests against his rule.

Morsi himself was sentenced this month to 20 years in prison for inciting violence near the Ittihadeya presidential palace in 2012.  — PTI