Egypt military court jails 19 anti-regime opponents

CAIRO

An Egyptian military court slapped 19 anti-regime opponents, including three children, with jail terms for staging protests and allegedly committing violence, a judicial source said.

The court jailed 16 people for 10 years each and three youngsters for three years each on charges of assault and staging protests in northern Cairo in 2014, the source added.

Sunday's verdict is still subject to appeal.

Egypt has been roiled by instability since Mohamed Morsi, the country's first freely elected president, was ousted in a 2013 military coup following protests against his rule.

Since then, Egyptian authorities have carried out a relentless crackdown on dissent that has mainly targeted the ousted president’s supporters, leaving hundreds dead and thousands behind bars.

Last year, President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief who led the military to unseat Morsi, approved legislation allowing individuals accused of committing violations against state institutions to be referred to military courts.

The move was widely criticized by local and international rights organizations, which expressed concern that defendants would not receive fair trials before military tribunals.

CAIRO

An Egyptian military court slapped 19 anti-regime opponents, including three children, with jail terms for staging protests and allegedly committing violence, a judicial source said.

The court jailed 16 people for 10 years each and three youngsters for three years each on charges of assault and staging protests in northern Cairo in 2014, the source added.

Sunday's verdict is still subject to appeal.

Egypt has been roiled by instability since Mohamed Morsi, the country's first freely elected president, was ousted in a 2013 military coup following protests against his rule.

Since then, Egyptian authorities have carried out a relentless crackdown on dissent that has mainly targeted the ousted president’s supporters, leaving hundreds dead and thousands behind bars.

The move was widely criticized by local and international rights organizations, which expressed concern that defendants would not receive fair trials before military tribunals.