A Cairo Military Court acquitted 23 Morsi supporters on charges of illegal protesting and riots earlier Tuesday.

The 23 Morsi supporters were arrested during a protest in the Roxi area of Helipolis in 2014.

The defendants were accused of illegal protesting, rioting, assaulting security personnel, and blocking traffic. 

Hundreds of civilian cases have been referred to military courts since the 2011 uprising that toppled veteran strongman, Hosni Mubarak. The practice has faced strong opposition from rights campaigners and pro-democracy advocates.

Military courts in Egypt are believed to process cases faster than civilian ones.

Under a protest law enacted in 2013, demonstrators who have not obtained prior approval from the police may face jail terms and fines.