Over 400 Morsi supporters referred to military courts

Nearly 432 supporters of the ousted Islamist President Mohammed Morsi from Menya and Beheira governorates were referred to military courts on charges of violence, including the killing of three policemen last year, local media reported.
About 139 of the 432 defendants will be tried over killing of three policemen, attacking and burning a police station in Menya Governorate, Akhbar el-Youm reported yesterday.
Remaining 293 defendants will be tried over the burning of headquarters of el-Beheira provincial government and killing seven civilians during clashes between Islamists and security forces in Beheira Governorate last year, el-Sherouk newspaper said.
Both violent acts took place on August 14 shortly after the dispersal of the pro-Morsi sit-ins in Cairo and Giza which left hundreds killed.

In October, the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi issued a decree allowing military trials for civilians who are suspected of committing crimes against vital and public facilities, days after a major terror attack killed at least 31 soldiers in the restive North Sinai region.
Since Morsi's ouster last year, the Egyptian government has been cracking down on the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters.

Thousands of Morsi supporters and Muslim Brotherhood members have been rounded up and put on trial since the army deposed the Islamist leader last year following massive street protests against his rule.
In March, 529 Muslim Brotherhood members were sentenced to death for killing a police officer in last year.

Morsi himself is currently in prison over charges of killing peaceful protesters, espionage, escaping from prison during the January 25 Revolution in 2011, insulting the judiciary.
Recently, he was charged of spying and handing documents of national security importance to foreign intelligence. He has not been sentenced in any case so far.