CAIRO: An Egyptian court sentenced a leading figure of the Muslim Brotherhood, Mohamed El-Beltagy, to one year in prison on Saturday for insulting the judiciary, the first sentence handed to a leader of the organisation since it was outlawed last year, security and judicial sources said.
Beltagy is standing trial along with former president Mohamed Mursi and 13 other Muslim Brotherhood leaders on charges of inciting the killing of protesters outside the presidential palace during unrest in late 2012.
Saturday's sentence was for a separate charge of insulting the judiciary during the hearing after Beltagy accused the prosecution of colluding against Muslim Brotherhood leaders.
"The court has decided to imprison the accused, Mohamed El-Beltagy, for one year on charges of insulting the judiciary," a senior court official said.
The army forced Mursi, the country's first freely-elected president, from power last July following mass protests against his rule. It then launched a crackdown against his organisation, arresting thousands on accusations of violence.
The Muslim Brotherhood was labelled a terrorist organisation last year and most of its senior leaders are in prison awaiting trial on charges relating to violence and terrorism.
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