14 Egyptian women sentenced to 11 years in prison for protests
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and of ousted president Mohamed Morsi flee from Egyptian security during a rally in the port city of Alexandria on November 4, 2013.
An Egyptian court in Alexandria on Wednesday sentenced 14 women to 11 years in prison.
Seven among them were minors, the youngest only 15 years old.
Their crime?
The court convicted them of belonging to a "terrorist organization," according to judicial sources.
The women, all said to be members of the Muslim Brotherhood, took part in a peaceful protest in Alexandria on Oct. 31.
The court also sentenced six men, tried in absentia, for inciting the women to block roads during clashes between supporters and opponents of deposed President Mohamed Morsi.
Independent Egyptian online newspaper Mada Masr noted the women were arrested when they tried to form a human chain during pro-Morsi protests.
Photo: 14 Egyptian women, including minors, face 11 years in jail for rally. | http://t.co/6LMomGU4G4 #Egypt pic.twitter.com/nIWMLQGE89
— AJELive (@AJELive) November 27, 2013
Heba Morayef is Human Rights Watch's Egypt Director:
Madness is when prosecutors put 15-year olds on trial for having participated in a peaceful demonstration Oct 31 pic.twitter.com/ttCqpy4qvo
— hebamorayef (@hebamorayef) November 27, 2013
The sentencing came just a day after a law came into effect regulating demonstrations in Egypt, which has been plagued by protests since Morsi's ouster on July 3. The law requires protesters to give authorities written notice at least three days before holding marches or rallies.
More from GlobalPost: Egypt's new law criminalizes protest, legalizes crackdown
On Tuesday, protesters clashed with riot police who used water cannons and tear gas on the crowd, and at least 28 protesters were detained by the end of the day.
Agence France-Presse cited judiciary sources and others, saying 60 protesters were detained including prominent activist Mona Seif, who led campaigns against military trials of civilans.
She and another 15 women and 12 men were reportedly released on a desert road in the middle of the night about six miles south of Cairo.
Egypt's interim prime minister, Hazem el-Beblawi, said the so-called anti-protest law was a "necessary step."