An appeals court in Egypt has ordered the release of 21 women, including seven juveniles, who were jailed last month over a protest in support of ousted President Mohammed Morsi.

The minors were placed on a three-month-long probation. The appeals court also reduced 11-year sentences given to 14 women to a suspended year-long term.

They were found guilty of belonging to a terrorist group, obstructing traffic, sabotage and using force last month.

Rights groups criticised the verdict.

One campaigner described it as madness.

The 14 women appeared inside the special cage in the Alexandria courtroom dressed in prison-issue white and holding red roses.

They had written the word "freedom" on their palms. Their supporters in the courtroom chanted, "God is great", as the verdicts were announced.

There was a heavy police presence outside the court complex.
Hefty sentences

The women and girls had taken part in an early morning demonstration in support of Mr Morsi.

Relatives say it was the first protest by the group - called the 7am Movement - and that it was peaceful.

The father of a 15-year-old girl told the BBC he would take legal action to have the conviction quashed as his daughter and her mother were innocent passers-by.

The women had expected to be sentenced to a month in jail at most at their trial last month.

Their sentence was longer than that given to some convicted killers, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo.

The verdict was condemned by human rights campaigners in Egypt as blatantly political, our correspondent says.

Hundreds of people have also been killed in clashes since July when Mr Morsi's removal sparked widespread protests.

BBC