DAMIETTA, June 21 (Aswat Masriya) A criminal court sentenced eight activists to life in prison on Saturday on charges of torching the Damietta headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood. 

The events took place before the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi on July 3 last year. 

The same court sentenced 15 Brotherhood supporters in absentia to 15 years in prison with hard labor on charges of belonging to a banned organization, inciting violence and protesting without permit last December.  

The Brotherhood was declared a terrorist group towards the end of last year and its leader Mohamed Badie has been sentenced to death.