CAIRO, Aug 24 (Aswat Masriya) - Eight Brotherhood members were sentenced to 20 years of maximum security prison on Monday, in a trial where they were accused of complicity in violence that took place in 2013. 

They were also ordered to pay a fine of 2,000 Egyptian pounds (around $255), each. 

The defendants include Mohsen Radi, a journalist and former member of parliament, who was arrested in September 2013.

They are accused of involvement in the violence that took place in Qalubiya govenorate in Greater Cairo in July 2013. Originally, nine people were put on trial but one of defendant has passed away.

Prosecutors had leveled against the defendants charges of attempted murder, show of force, threatening to use force, unlicensed arms possession, vandalism and joining a group founded in violation of the law. 

The Egyptian government considers the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organisation and insists it is behind the wave of militancy which has targeted security personnel since July 2013, when Brotherhood politician and then-president Mohamed Mursi was removed from power.

The Brotherhood continuously denies the accusations.

Mursi was ousted after mass protests against his rule. In the period following his ouster, Brotherhood members and leading figures have often found themselves behind bars where many are serving multiple verdicts.