Egypt sentences 23 Brotherhood members to life in jail

An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced 23 alleged Muslim Brotherhood members to life in prison on charges linked to unrest following the 2013 military coup against democratically elected Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.

The court sentenced another 223 defendants to 15 years on similar charges, including belonging to a terrorist group, murder, and planning attacks against the state.

Another 22 defendants were sentenced to three years in jail while 109 were acquitted.

The authorities have arrested thousands of Brotherhood leaders and members, including Morsi, since his ouster by the army in 2013.

Hundreds have been sentenced to death, although many have appealed and won retrials.

The country was rocked by violence for weeks after Morsi's supporters set up peaceful protest camps and demonstrated against his overthrow.

On August 14, 2013, security forces violently dispersed two protest camps in Cairo demanding Morsi be reinstated, killing over 1,000 people.

Not a single person has been held accountable for the mass killing.

Morsi has been jailed and sentenced to death.