Egypt sentences 75 protesters to death after demonstrations where 900 were people killed by security services

Amnesty International describes ruling as 'disgraceful' and a 'mockery of justice'

Supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi protesting in 2013 near Cairo's Rabaa Adawiya square (Reuters)

Egypt has sentenced 75 protesters to death and dozens more to life behind bars in a mass trial over a 2013 protest in support of the Muslim Brotherhood.

In August 2013 up to 900 people were killed in Rabaa and nearby al Nahda square by security services after they gathered to demonstrate against the coup which had removed the elected president Mohamed Morsi.

At what was initially intended to be a sit-in protest, the mood soon turned violent after Egyptian police moved to disperse the camps. The government said many protesters were armed and that eight members of the security forces were killed.

Of the hundreds who were killed, six were from the security services while the others were protesters. Human Rights Watch described the event as the largest killings of demonstrators in a single day in recent history.

Five years after the massacre Cairo’s criminal court has handed down 75 death sentences, 47 life sentences, and heavy prison sentences ranging from 15 to five years to 612 people.

Those sentenced to jail included a US citizen, Moustafa Kassem, rights group Pretrial Rights International said. Washington is Cairo’s closest western ally and one of its top aid donors.

In Saturday’s hearing at the vast Tora prison complex south of Cairo, a criminal court sentenced to death by hanging several prominent Islamists including senior Brotherhood leaders al-Erian and Beltagi and preacher Safwat Higazi.

Muslim Brotherhood spiritual leader Mohamed Badie and dozens more were given life sentences, judicial sources said. Others received jail sentences ranging from five to 15 years.

Cases were dropped against five people who died while in prison, judicial sources said.

For executions to take place, president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi must issue a final approval.

Najia Bounaim, north Africa campaigns director at Amnesty International, described the sentences as “disgraceful” and claimed that no member of the security services had been held accountable for the deaths.

“We condemn today’s verdict in the strongest terms. The death penalty should never be an option under any circumstance,” Ms Bounaim said.

“The fact that not a single police officer has been brought to account for the killing of at least 900 people in the Rabaa and Nahda protests shows what a mockery of justice this trial was. The Egyptian authorities should be ashamed.

“We demand a retrial in an impartial court and in full respect of the right to a fair trial for all defendants, without recourse to the death penalty.”

Additional reporting by agencies