Update – Egypt Jails 37 Morsi Supporters For 'Unlicensed' Protests

Egyptian judicial authorities on Wednesday jailed 37 supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi for staging "unlicensed" protests.



An eastern Cairo court slapped 13 Morsi supporters with three-year jail terms each for staging "unlicensed" protests, a judicial source said.



The court found the 13 defendants –ten students and three doctors – guilty of staging unauthorized protests near Cairo's Al-Azhar University last December, the source said.



Prosecutors had accused the 13 supporters of the ousted president of multiple crimes, including unlicensed protest, assault and thuggery.



Another court in the Nile Delta city of Tanta jailed 19 supporters of the deposed leader for ten years for staging "unlicensed" protests and joining the Muslim Brotherhood, which the military-backed authorities branded a "terrorist" group in December.



A southern Cairo court also slapped five Morsi supporters with two-year jail terms and $72 fines each for illegal assembly and authorized protests.



Last November, the Egyptian government passed a law making it necessary to obtain police permission before staging demonstrations.



The legislation sparked an outcry both inside and outside Egypt.



By Sayed Fathi



englishnews@aa.com.tr - Kahire