Court passes sentences in Port Said case

An Egyptian court has handed down sentences, including death penalties, to 21 people who were allegedly involved in a deadly riot in Port Said in 2012.

In a Saturday ruling, the Cairo Criminal court in the country’s capital also sentenced five out of 52 other defendants to life in prison, while others acquitted or received shorter jail sentences.

The development comes as thousands of Egyptians marched on the streets of the turbulent canal city of Port Said on Friday, protesting the deaths of local people in clashes with police.

Since March 3, at least seven people have been killed and hundreds more have been wounded in the city, which has been the scene of violent protests since January.

The protesters in Port Said are angry that people from their city were found guilty of murdering 74 people, who were killed in a riot that broke out in their town after Port Said-based Al-Masry defeated Cairo’s Al-Ahly 3-1 in a football match.

In January, a judge sentenced 21 local people to death for their roles in the February 1, 2012 riot, in which 1,000 people were also injured.

Egyptians have criticized the verdict, describing it as politicized. The court confirmation of the sentences of those accused of involvement in the football tragedy is likely to cause more protests and unrest.

Egypt’s army has taken control of Port Said, replacing police units, to defuse possible tensions.

The North African country has been grappling with unrest in the past few months. Egyptian protesters want President Mohamed Morsi to pursue the goals of the revolution that brought an end to the 30-year dictatorship of Hosni Mubarak on February 11, 2011.