A dozen supporters of ousted president Mohamed Morsi were sentenced to life in prison, or 25 years, by a Beheira court in Egypt's Nile Delta on charges related to protests after Morsi's removal last year.

The convicted were arrested in the Damanhour district of Beheira soon after the violent dispersal of the pro-Morsi Rabaa and Nahda sit-ins in Cairo in August 2013 which left hundreds dead.

The verdict was appealed.

The suspects were charged with attempted murder, inciting violence, rioting and belonging to a terrorist group.

In February 2014, the Muslim Brotherhood – from which Morsi hails – was labelled a terrorist group and has been blamed for militant attacks since the Islamist president's ouster in June 2013.

Thousands of Islamists and suspected Morsi loyalists have been arrested since his ouster. Morsi himself is facing a number of trials on different charges, some of which include espionage and jail break.

Earlier this year a Minya criminal court in Upper Egypt gave the death penalty to about 600 Brotherhood supporters. Most of the sentences were later overturned, amid an international outcry over the mass trial.

Brotherhood Supreme Guide Mohamed Badie also received a death sentence which was overturned in August.