MOSCOW, December 28 (Sputnik) – An Egyptian appeals court reduced the jail terms from three years to two for 23 young protesters convicted of violating a law that prohibits demonstrations, Reuters reports Sunday.
The activists were arrested while holding a rally in June, breaking the law that bans all protests. Civil rights organizations condemned the law as a sign of an increasing repressive political climate in Egypt, AFP said.
The protesters each must pay 10,000 Egyptian pounds ($1,400) in fines upon their release and will be placed under strict police surveillance for two years, according to Khalid Ali, a defense lawyer of the activists, AFP said.
“This verdict is harsh and unfair. The court relied on the prosecution’s investigation and has not taken into account the lack of evidence against the accused,” Ali said, as quoted by AFP.
Among the sentenced are prominent activists Sanaa Seif, her brother Alaa Abdel-Fattah and civil rights lawyer Yara Sallam. Abdel-Fattah was among the youth activists who took part in the 2011 uprising against Hosni Mubarak, Ahram news said. Amnesty International described the protesters as “prisoners of conscience”.
@amnesty International demands release of alumna Yara Sallam (LLM 10). http://t.co/NLMPtl3wzh http://t.co/urQvMP5tDK pic.twitter.com/ftEVOk1SFL
— ND Women Connect (@ND_Women) 12 ноября 2014
“The case provides the latest proof of the Egyptian authorities’ determination to quash peaceful protest and stifle all forms of dissent. No one should be detained for peacefully exercising the right to freedom of expression and assembly” said Philip Luther, Director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme.
Since the current Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi toppled Islamist president Mohammed Morsi in June 2013, the country has cracked down on opposition forces. At least 1,400 people have been killed and many more imprisoned, which includes not only Morsi supporters, but secular and left leaning groups of protesters, AFP reported.
