16 Azhar students sentenced to 4 years in prison

Nasr City Criminal Court sentenced 16 students from Al-Azhar University to four years in prison on Wednesday for their participation in an unauthorized protest in January, without first hearing their defense.

12 male students were present in court, while four female students were sentenced in absentia. All are said to be Islamist supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi and charges brought against them include: possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition, destruction of both public and private property, resisting authorities, threatening public security, and affiliation with a terrorist group.

The state officially declared the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in December 2013.

The spokesperson for the liberal Wafd Party said Wednesday was supposed to be set aside for the defense to make a case and cross-examine witnesses. The lack of opportunity for this to take place reportedly “resulted in great dismay and anger” among the defendants and their lawyers.

The prisoner support group, Freedom for the Brave, issued a statement today maintaining that this represents “a blatant violation of judicial guarantees,” and is “a breach of justice that denies defendants the right to defend themselves.”

The group said the verdict is “politicized” and violates the provisions of Constitutional Article 96, which guarantee due process and stipulates that all defendants are innocent until proven guilty.

The Freedom for the Brave campaign claims several of the convicted students have proof from Al-Azhar that they were attending exams on the day of the protest.

The students’ lawyers are reportedly attempting to appeal the verdict.

In reference to Wednesday's sentences, independently owned Al-Dostour newspaper wrote: “Students of terrorist society sentenced to prison for rioting,” adding that the convicted students had engaged in violent clashes with security forces, blocked roads, and obstructed traffic.

Al-Azhar campus and dormitories have been the scene of several clashes between Muslim Brotherhood affiliated students and police since the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi last year. Although several other universities have experienced violence, Al-Azhar has witnessed the most severe state crackdown on student protests.

In May, the president of Al-Azhar expelled 76 students for taking part in riots on campus.

On Monday, the board of Al-Azhar and its lawyers said they are filing 20 legal appeals against verdicts issued by the Administrative Court last month, which ruled for the reinstatement of several opposition Islamist students who were expelled from the university for their political actions.