Egypt Court Sentences Prominent Activist to 15 Years in Jail
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - An Egyptian court sentenced on Wednesday in absentia prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to 15 years in jail on charges of protesting without state permission, state-run Ahram website reported.
Abdel Fattah was one of the leading activists who helped spearhead the massive protests that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
He was arrested last November along with some other activists and government critics over organizing unauthorized protests outside the Shura Council (the Upper House of the parliament) and defying a controversial protest law that requires protesters to report their activities to the state.
Abdel Fattah was also charged with assaulting security men and inciting people for protests against the then military-installed government.
Twenty-four others were also sentenced to 15 years in jail on similar charges.
The ruling came three days after former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was sworn in as Egyptian new president.
