Egypt sentences 101 protesters to 5 years in prison

FILE -- In this May 3, 2016 file photo, a journalist takes photos of police as they close off a street leading to the Press Syndicate during a protest in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian courts on Saturday, May 14, 2016 convicted over 150 protesters for breaking a law that effectively bans demonstrations, sentencing them to up to five years in prison in quick trials that signaled President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s resolve to suppress any dissent. The case is rooted in events on April 25 when police stifled planned demonstrations called to protest the government’s surrender to Saudi Arabia of two Red Sea islands. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty., File) (The Associated Press)

FILE -- In this Tuesday, May 3, 2016 file photo, Egyptian security forces close off a street near the Press Syndicate as journalists protest, in Cairo, Egypt. Egyptian courts on Saturday, May 14, 2016 convicted over 150 protesters for breaking a law that effectively bans demonstrations, sentencing them to up to five years in prison in quick trials that signaled President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s resolve to suppress any dissent. The case is rooted in events on April 25 when police stifled planned demonstrations called to protest the government’s surrender to Saudi Arabia of two Red Sea islands. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty, File) (The Associated Press)

FILE -- In this April 15, 2016 file photo, Egyptians shout slogans against Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi during a protest against the decision to hand over control of two strategic Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia in front of the Press Syndicate, in Cairo, Egypt. Arabic reads, "Egypt is not for sale." Egyptian courts on Saturday, May 14, 2016 convicted over 150 protesters for breaking a law that effectively bans demonstrations, sentencing them to up to five years in prison in quick trials that signaled President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s resolve to suppress any dissent. The case is rooted in events on April 25 when police stifled planned demonstrations called to protest the government’s surrender to Saudi Arabia of two Red Sea islands. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil, File) (The Associated Press)

Egyptian officials say two Cairo courts have convicted and sentenced to five years in jail a total of 101 protesters for taking part in peaceful, anti-government demonstrations last month.

The officials on Sunday said the 101 were convicted of breaking a disputed 2013 law that effectively bans street protests. Of the 101, 79 were also fined 100,000 pounds (about $10,000) each.

They spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media.

The sentences were passed late Saturday, hours after another Cairo court sentenced 51 protesters to two years in jail for their part in last month's demonstrations, which were called to protest Egypt's decision to hand over control of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia as part of a demarcation deal.