AFP
Cairo
An Egyptian court yesterday sentenced 36 students from the prestigious Al Azhar university to four years in prison each over violent protests backing ousted president Mohamed Mursi, judicial sources said.
Student supporters of the deposed Islamist regularly stage protests calling for his release at universities, in particular at Cairo’s Al Azhar, a prestigious seat of Sunni Islamic learning.
All 36 were found guilty of holding a violent protest in December, rioting, blocking roads in front of the university and showing aggression against the security forces, the sources said.
Each was also fined 30,000 Egyptian pounds (about $4,250).
Another court has handed down life sentences to seven Mursi supporters after violent protests in mid-August in Qaliubiya province north of Cairo, a statement from the prosecution’s office said yesterday. The sentence was on Saturday.
The group was accused of shooting passersby, resisting security forces, cutting off a main highway and burning car tyres.
The violence erupted on August 14 after security forces dispersed two protest camps set up in Cairo by Mursi supporters to call for his reinstatement. Hundreds of people were killed that day.
Mursi was ousted by the army last July 3 after mass street protests against his divisive year-long rule.
Since his overthrow, a crackdown targeting his supporters has seen more than 1,400 people killed in street clashes, upwards of 15,000 jailed and hundreds sentenced to death after speedy mass trials.
Mursi, Egypt’s first freely elected president, himself faces three trials on various charges, including colluding with militant groups.
Sisi sees situation
better ‘in two years’
Presidential frontrunner Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said yesterday Egypt’s situation will improve in two years, adding that he would not hesitate to resign if there were mass protests against him.
Sisi, who ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in July last year, is expected to trounce his only rival, leftist leader Hamdeen Sabbahi, in the May 26-27 election.
“If things go according to the plan we have prepared, we will see an improvement in two years,” the retired field marshal said in an interview with Sky News Arabia.
Egypt’s “problems will be over in two years”, he added.
In Sisi’s second television interview this week, he also said he would not hesitate to step down if there were mass protests against him.
“If the people go out (on the streets), I will ask them ‘What do you want? I am under your orders’,” he said when asked what he would do if protests also erupt against him as they did against long-time strongman Hosni Mubarak in early 2011 and later against Mursi in 2013.
“I won’t wait for the army (to intervene) ... the army acts according to the people’s will,” Sisi said.