Court jails 78 minors for alleged links to Brotherhood

An Alexandria court has sentenced 78 minors, all aged between 13 and 17 years old, to jail for allegedly being affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood.

The court accused the defendants of blocking traffic and causing chaos, as well as terrifying citizens and shop owners.

The defendants were reportedly arrested for protesting and chanting against the regime, according to privately owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm. The defendants, who were handed sentences ranging from two to five years, denied all accusations and stated that they were arrested randomly and not during protests.

According to the newspaper, the hearing was heavily secured and the defendants' families and their defense waited outside the court room.

Minister of Transitional Justice Ibrahim al-Heneidy stated on Tuesday that the Supreme Committee for Legislative Reform had passed a new terrorism law and terrorist entities law and will submit it to presidency by next week.

Heneidy told privately owned newspaper Al-Watan that the new law defines crimes of terrorism and the sanctions against them, while the terrorist entities law includes further plans to combat terrorism.

The official concluded that once the laws have been revised and approved by the State Council, they will be sent to President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for final endorsement.

Egypt has witnessed a series of terrorist attacks since the ousting of former President Mohamed Morsi. The military has meanwhile launched a crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood and armed groups in Sinai.