A misdemeanour court on Tuesday sentenced 50 alleged supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi to five years in prison.

The defendants were accused of illegal assembly and inciting riots with police in the Hannoville district of Alexandria in May. 

According to their defence team, the verdict was issued without a pleading hearing even though ten defence lawyers were present in court.

Thousands of Islamists and suspected Morsi loyalists have been arrested since he was removed from power last summer.