They were accused of protesting without permission, inciting violence and joining a terrorist group.

Two courts in Egypt  last weekend sentenced 152 protesters to prison terms ranging from two to five years and fines  on charges of  illegal demonstrations against government decisions.

The first court sentenced 101 people to five years of imprisonment for participating in protests on  April 25,  2016 against the government’s decision to transfer two Red Seas islands to Saudi Arabia. Business Standard newspaper reported that 79 of them were also slapped a fine of 100,000 Egyptian Pounds (approximately 10,000 U.S. Dollars ) by the court. The defendants are said to have taken part in protests in Dokki and Agoza Districts of Giza on April 25. They were charged with protesting without permission, inciting violence and joining a terrorist group among other charges. Seven of them were minors, whose cases were referred to a juvenile court.

Another court, still last weekend, sentenced 51 people to two years hard labour for protesting in the downtown area of Cairo on April 25 against the Egyptian-Saudi Red Sea maritime border demarcation deal.  Business Standard said 31 of the people were present in court, while 20 were sentenced in absentia. The defendants were charged with illegally protesting, attempting to overthrow the government, inciting against state institutions and disturbing public peace. Thirteen minors were also referred by prosecution to juvenile court.

The genesis of the court action stemmed from the fact that several activists rallied on April 25 to protest against the Egyptian government's recent decision to transfer the two Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia. The two islands were under Egypt's control for over 60 years.