Cair: An Egyptian court Monday rejected appeals by three prominent pro-democracy activists against their imprisonment sentences and upheld the earlier verdict handing them three years in prison each.
Ahmad Maher, Mohammad Adel and Ahmad Adel were in December found guilty of violating a law banning street protests without prior permission from police. They were also accused of attacking policemen outside a Cairo court and damaging public and private properties.
The case has drawn local and foreign condemnations, raising concerns about freedom of expression in Egypt.
The three played a major role in a 2011 uprising that unseated Eypt’s long-standing president Hosni Mubarak.
In 2008, they set up April 6 Movement that spearheaded the 18-day revolt against Mubarak.
In November, the military-backed government issued a controversial law authorising police to ban or approve public demonstrations. Critics say the law heavily restricts freedom of expression and is aimed at stifling political dissent.
Authorities say the law is necessary for curbing violent protests mainly blamed on backers of Islamist president, who was deposed by the army in July last year following enormous street protests against his rule. Thousands, mainly Mursi’s backers, have been rounded up since his ouster.
