Egypt court sentences 75 to death over 2013 protest

An Egyptian court on Saturdayissued death sentences for 75 people, including prominentIslamist leaders, and jailed more than 600 others over a 2013sit-in which ended with the killing of hundreds of protesters bysecurity forces.

The sentencing concluded the mass trial of some 700 peopleaccused of offences, including murder and inciting violence, during the pro-Muslim Brotherhood protest at Rabaa Adawiyasquare in Cairo.

The government says many protesters were armed and thateight members of the security forces were killed. It initiallysaid more than 40 police had died.

Rights groups say more than 800 protesters died in the single most deadly incident during the unrest that followed Egypt's 2011 popular uprising. Amnesty International condemned Saturday's decision, calling the trial "disgraceful."

In Saturday's hearing at the vast Tora prison complex southof Cairo, a criminal court sentenced to death by hanging severalprominent Islamists, including senior Brotherhood leaders Essamal-Erian and Mohamed Beltagi and preacher Safwat Higazi.

Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Mohamed Badie and dozensmore were given life sentences, judicial sources said. Othersreceived jail sentences ranging from five to 15 years.

Cases were dropped against five people who had died while inprison, judicial sources said, without giving further details.

Following weeks of protests in 2013 against the ouster of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi by the military led at the time by Egypt's current president, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi security forces violently broke up the demonstrators at Rabaa square.

They arrested hundreds of people, who were charged withinciting violence, murder and organizing illegal protests.

We condemn today's verdict in the strongest terms.- Amnesty International

Rights groups have criticized the trial for including manypeaceful protesters and journalists.

An award-winning photographer who covered the protests,Mahmoud Abu Zeid, was sentenced to five years in jail, but wouldsoon be released because his five years in detention during thetrial are counted toward the sentence, judicial sources said.

Abu Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was awarded a UnitedNations press freedom prize this year. He was charged withbelonging to a banned group and possessing firearms.

'Mockery of justice'

"We condemn today's verdict in the strongest terms," Amnesty International said in a statement. "The fact that not a single police officer has been brought to account ... shows what a mockery of justice this trial was."

Since Sisi was elected president in 2014, authorities havejustified a crackdown on dissent and freedoms as being directedat militants and saboteurs trying to undermine the state.

Death sentences have been handed down to hundreds of hispolitical opponents on charges such as belonging to an illegalorganization or planning to carry out an attack.

Supporters say a security crackdown is needed to stabilizeEgypt, which still faces an Islamist insurgency in the SinaiPeninsula and is reeling financially from years of unrest.

Critics say the erosion of freedoms and silencing ofpolitical opponents is the worst Egypt has seen in its modernhistory.