Egypt Courts Send to Jail 152 for Opposing Transfer of Islands to Riyadh

Two Egyptian courts reportedly sentenced 152 protesters to prison terms for taking part in demonstrations against planned Red Sea island transfers to Saudi Arabia.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Last month, Cairo and Riyadh signed the maritime border demarcation agreement under which Egypt transferred the islands of Tiran and Sanafir at the southern entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba to Saudi Arabia, triggering a week of mass rallies.

According to The New York Times newspaper’s Saturday report, the prison terms range between two and five years, while some of the demonstrators were also fined.

At least 400 people are awaiting trial, the media outlet reported.

Egypt has been in control of the Tiran and Sanafir for over 60 years. The islands could be potentially used for the construction of a bridge across the Red Sea announced on April 8 by Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.