Military sentences civilians in Suez

A military tribunal handed a number of supporters of President Mohamed Morsi prison sentences on Tuesday, the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

Eleven defendants were sentenced to life in prison, 45 were each given a sentence of 5 years, and 8 were acquitted, Al Ahram said.

Conflicting reports later emerged that the court had sentenced one defendant to life in prison, three were sentenced to 15 years, 48 were sentenced between 5 and 10 years, and 12 were found innocent. 

They were accused of attacking the military and setting fire to three churches and five armored vehicles. The accused also faced other charges, including attacking public institutions, spreading chaos, and blocking off roads.

Al-Ahram said that the accused were “supporters of Mohamed Morsi and members of the Muslim Brotherhood and Jama'a al-Islamiya.”

The Brotherhood’s news website, Ikhwanonline, said that the accused were arrested without firm evidence, and were mistreated while in custody. Its report said “unknown men” attacked the churches.

During the period of military rule following the ouster of former President Hosni Mubarak, over 12,000 civilians were sentenced by military tribunals, which do not give the same protections to the accused as civilian courts.

"Military courts are considered exceptional court, and they are formed to be a disciplinary committee for disputes that occur in the military institution itself," said Mona Seif, a founder of the No to Military Trials for Civilians advocacy group.

Military tribunals take place under the umbrella of the Defense Ministry, not the Justice Ministry, and in many cases defendants have no access to a laywer, Seif said.

Civil disputes involving a soldier are often referred to a military court rather than a civilian court.

A military prosecutor ordered that Mahmoud Abdel Razek Shikabala and two other soccer players with the Zamalek Club be arrested after Shikabala fought with a military officer at Hurghada Airport on Monday. 

Last month, eight were sentenced by the Suez Military Court to 2 years in prison.