An Egyptian court on Thursday sentenced 38 Azhar University students to 18 months in prison each on charges of illegal assembly and resisting authorities.
Two minors, meanwhile, were referred to a juvenile court.
Prosecutors charged the 40 defendants with resisting authorities, illegal assembly and attacking public property during recent protests outside Azhar University in Cairo.
Last week, 12 Azhar students were sentenced to a whopping 17 years in prison each on charges of illegal assembly, thuggery, assaulting civil servants and attacking public property.
Pro-democracy demonstrations have rocked several universities throughout the country since Egypt's academic year began in September.
The most violent of these have been seen at Al-Azhar University's Cairo campus, where the academic year began in October after having been postponed by almost one month.
On Wednesday, one student was killed outside the university's dormitory in Cairo after clashes erupted between police and scores of student protesters.
By Anas Sayed
englishnews@aa.com.tr
