A criminal court has fined former Al-Dostour editor Islam Afifi LE10,000 ($1,452) for insulting former president Mohamed Morsi.

Shortly after his election in June 2012, the newspaper published ten editions falsely accusing Morsi of forming armed militias and employing thugs to attack political opponents.

Afifi was also accused of publishing false information, spreading rumours likely to disturb public security, terrorising people and harming the public interest.

In May, Afifi was fined LE 10,000 for libelling and defaming Essam El-Erian, vice chairman of the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party.

The charges were made over a story in Al-Dostour in June 2012 when Afifi was editor. The story claimed El-Erian and Brotherhood second-in-command Khairat El-Shater had been involved in planning violence, including shooting protesters and hiring 'eye-snipers', to be unleashed if Mohamed Morsi had lost the presidential election runoff to Ahmed Shafiq.

The authorities have launched a sharp crackdown on Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood since he was ousted in July following mass protests calling for him to step-down.

Thousands of supporters have been detained, including its top leadership. Most are facing charges of inciting violence against protesters. Erian and El-Shater are on trial on similar charges.

Morsi is being tried for the killing of protesters near a presidential palace in December 2012. He also faces charges of conspiring with Hamas.