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Update: 71 Egypt's MB supporters get life jail for church arson

Xinhua, April 30, 2015 Adjust font size:

An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced 71 supporters of the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood (MB) group to life in prison over burning a church in 2013, state-run MENA news agency reported.

The Giza criminal court has also sentenced two juveniles to 10 years in prison in the same case.

The case dates back to August 2013, when dozens of MB loyalists vandalized public property, including the church, and stormed the main police station in Kerdasa, Giza, killing 11 policemen and two civilians.

In addition to the arson charge, defendants were also charged with attempted murder and violence following the dispersal of both the Rabaa and al-Nahda sit-ins.

The assaults took place shortly after police forces cracked down on two main sit-ins, in both Cairo and Giza.

The sit-ins were organized by supporters of Islamist president Mohammed Morsi, toppled by the army in July 2013 following mass protests against his one-year rule.

In October of last year, an Egyptian court sentenced 188 defendants to death over the murder of 11 policemen in the Kerdasa police station.

A number of MB members, including high ranking officials, were sentenced to death and life imprisonment.

However, the sentences have not been processed and can be appealed. Endit