DHAKA: An Egyptian court has sentenced 683 people, including Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohamed Badie to death.

In a separate case, the same court also reversed 492 death sentences out of 529 it passed in March, commuting most of the death sentences to life in prison, media reported, says Al Jazeera.

Monday’s hearing in the southern province of Minya comes amid a brutal crackdown on Mursi supporters and the Brotherhood since the military overthrew him last July.

The court has come under the spotlight after the same judge in March sentenced the 529 defendants to death in just two sessions.

The second batch, including Badie, had faced charges of the murder and attempted murder of several policemen during rioting by Mursi supporters in Minya on August 14.

BDST: 1353 HRS, APR 28, 2014