CAIRO, Sept. 8 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian court on Saturday sentenced 75 former members of Muslim Brotherhood to death over their involvement in the armed sit-in in Rabaa five years ago, official Middle East News Agency (MENA) reported.

Members of Egypt's banned Muslim Brotherhood are seen inside a glass dock during their trial in the capital Cairo on July 28, 2018. (File photo: VCG)

According to the report, 44 defendants attended the trial, including Muslim Brotherhood leaders Essam El Erian, Abdel Rahman al-Barr, Mohamed Beltagy and Safwat Hegazi, while 31 other fugitives were tried in absentia.

The case dates back to 2013 when supporters of the ousted Islamist President Mohamed Morsi gathered in Rabaa el Adawiya Square in Cairo's Nasr City district following his overthrow by the army in July 2013 in response to mass protests against his one-year rule.

The sit-in was dispersed violently by security men after warnings from the government.

The protesters were also accused of hindering traffic, causing public disorder, terrifying the residents as they possessed weapons.

Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood was banned by the government and most members of the group have received verdicts varying from death to life sentences over charges of violence, killing and espionage.

Morsi is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence over inciting deadly clashes between his supporters and opponents in late 2012 and a 25-year jail term over leaking classified documents to Qatar.