THE international human rights group Amnesty International has condemned an Egyptian court for giving prison terms to 15 Muslim Brotherhood members, saying it was a blow to freedom of expression. “Amnesty International condemns the verdict, considers the 15 men to be prisoners of conscience and calls for their immediate and unconditional release,” the London-based human rights group said. Egypt’s high military court on Sunday condemned the 15 to between three and five years in prison for reviving the outlawed Brotherhood, while five others were acquitted of the same charges. Former member of parliament Mukhtar Nuh, who got three years in jail, said the sentences were “punishment” for the Brotherhood’s success in parliamentary elections earlier this month during which they won 17 of the 454 seats. Despite its illegal status, the Brotherhood, which wants an Islamic state in Egypt, now holds the largest block of opposition seats in parliament. – AFP