Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood on Monday condemned mass death sentences handed down against supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi.
"Such verdicts will not breathe fear and panic into revolutionary people," the Brotherhood said in a statement.
"This is a new episode in the genocide being committed against the peaceful revolutionary people, who will not stop until they regain their freedom," It added.
The Brotherhood said that the death sentences "reflect that corruption has reached the Egyptian Judiciary and augur ill for the future of the country".
A court in the central province of Minya has earlier today sentenced 37 Morsi supporters to death and handed 491 others life sentences on violence charges.
It also referred 683 other defendants, including Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie, to the mufti, Egypt's top religious official, to consider possible death sentences against them.
All 1,211 defendants are tried on charges of attacking police stations and involvement in acts of violence in Minya.
Egypt's army-backed authorities have launched a massive crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood since Morsi's ouster by the army last July.
In the nine months since, thousands of the groups' members and sympathizers have been arrested and convicted of multiple charges.
By Islam Mosaad
englishnews@aa.com.tr
