Prosecutors in Alexandria have ordered the release of Ahmed El-Hamrawy, head of the legal team representing 21 women and teenage girls who were given prison sentences for protest-related offences last week.

Fourteen women were sentenced to 11 years in jail last week for offences related to their participation in a protest in support of ousted president Mohamed Morsi in Alexandria in October. They were charged with destroying private property, attacking security forces and stirring violence. Seven teenage girls were found guilty of the same offences and sentenced to detention in a juvenile detention centre. The defendants had denied engaging in any violent acts at the protest.

El-Hamrawy was arrested by national security officers on Monday morning at his home on charges of inciting violence at recent clashes in Alexandria.

According to Al-Ahram Arabic news website, the lawyer was questioned for several hours before being released.

Earlier on Monday, a security official had denied the arrest and told Al-Ahram Arabic that as El-Hamrawy does not face any charges, no arrest warrant had been issued for him.

A colleague, Mahmoud Gaber, and El-Hamrawy's wife had confirmed that security forces arrested El-Hamrawy at his Alexandria home.