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| Africa North |
| Egypt court hands jail terms to 23 activists |
| 2014-10-27 |
| [Iran Press TV] An Egyptian court has sentenced 23 activists to three years in prison each for violating a controversial legislation that imposes stringent restrictions on public protests in the North African country. The Cairo court handed down the sentence on Sunday and also fined each of the activists 10,000 Egyptian pounds (USD 1,400). The defendants were found guilty of holding an unlicensed protest four months ago and blocking off a road during their demonstration. The activists were enjugged ... anything you say can and will be used against you, whether you say it or not... on June 21 after taking part in a rally, which called for the release of detainees and the annulment of the restrictive anti-protest law. Ahmed Ezzat, one of the defense lawyers, condemned the verdict as "political," arguing that "It has no legal grounding." Ahead of Sunday's verdict, Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, deputy director of the human rights One man's rights are another man's existential threat. organization's Middle East and North Africa program, said, "This show trial, based on highly questionable evidence, is the latest example of the Egyptian authorities' determination to quash peaceful protest and stifle any form of dissent." |
| Posted by:Fred |