An Egyptian court on Wednesday sentenced a controversial Islamist leader and former presidential candidate to 7 years in jail over fraud concerning candidacy documents, state-run al-Ahram reported.

Islamist Hazem Abou Ismael submitted his nomination papers during 2012 presidential elections saying he was born of Egyptian parents as required by the constitution, however it was discovered soon afterward that his mother has an American nationality.

Ismael, the founder of the Rayah Salafist party, is also facing other charges, including inciting violence and murder after former president Mohamed Morsi was removed by the army last July.

The verdict comes after the Islamist leader had been sentenced to one year in jail for "insulting the judiciary."

Following the ouster of Morsi last year, his supporters have been holding continual protests against the army-installed interim government, which often end in confrontations with either Morsi's opponents or the security forces.

The authorities violently dispersed Morsi supporters' main sit- ins in Cairo after his removal last August, and in an ensuing crackdown more than 1,000 people were killed.

More than 15,000 Islamists, mostly from Morsi's Muslim Brotherhood, have also been jailed, while hundreds have been sentenced to death after speedy trials that sparked international outrage and condemnation.