An Egyptian misdemeanour court sentenced on Wednesday 99 people to one year in prison for participating in violent protests that erupted over the death of a man in police custody in January.
The 22-year-old Mohamed Abdel-Hakim, known as Afroto, had died in hospital shortly after being arrested on suspicion of drug dealing.
Following his death, more than 40 people were arrested during clashes with police forces that erupted outside the Mokattam police station where he had been briefly detained.
Twenty-eight of those convicted today were present in court, and the rest were sentenced in absentia.
The defendants, who include Abdel-Hakim s family members and friends, faced charges of illegal protesting, torching police vehicles and attempting to storm a police station.
The sentences can still be appealed before a higher court.
Earlier this month, a criminal court sentenced two policemen to three years and six months in prison over the death.
The two men were convicted of beating Abdel-Hakim to death and detaining him without legal grounds.
A post-mortem report said the death was caused by "severe laceration of the spleen and abdominal bleeding."
