74 Egyptians jailed for post-coup 'violence'

CAIRO (AA) - An Egyptian court Tuesday slapped 74 people with prison terms ranging from five to 15 years behind bars for "acts of violence" committed in the wake of Egypt’s 2013 military coup.

According to Egypt’s official MENA news agency, Ismailia’s Criminal Court sentenced nine people to 15 years in prison; 43 to 10 years; 19 to seven years; and another three to five years each.

Fourteen other defendants in the case were acquitted, the news agency reported.

Tuesday's sentences can still be appealed before the Court of Cassation, Egypt’s highest appellate court.

Rights groups frequently accuse the Egyptian authorities of trying -- and convicting -- political opponents on trumped-up criminal charges.

Egyptian officials, for their part, say all defendants receive fair trials and enjoy due legal process.

Egypt has been roiled by violence since 2013, when Mohamed Morsi, the country’s first freely elected president, was ousted and imprisoned in a bloody military coup.