By Sayed Fathi, and Mohamed al-Rayes

CAIRO

An Egyptian court on Wednesday slapped six people, including the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood group, with life sentences for violence-related charges, according to a local judicial source.

The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Mohamed Badie, his deputy Khairat el-Shater and four other people to life in prison, the source said.

The defendants face charges including planning protests and shooting fire over acts that took place in 2013 following the ouster of democratically-elected president Mohamed Morsi in a military coup.

The court also acquitted former parliamentary speaker Saad al-Katatni and leading members of Essam al-Erian and Mohammed al-Beltagy in the same case.

Wednesday's verdicts are still subject to appeal.

Egyptian authorities have launched a relentless crackdown on dissent since Morsi’s ouster, killing hundreds and sending thousands behind bars on violence-related charges.