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Egypt jails Ahmed Maher and other secular activists | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Three prominent Egyptian activists from the 2011 uprising that led to the fall of Hosni Mubarak have been sentenced to three years in jail. | Three prominent Egyptian activists from the 2011 uprising that led to the fall of Hosni Mubarak have been sentenced to three years in jail. |
Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohamed Adel were found guilty of organising a recent unauthorised protest. | Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohamed Adel were found guilty of organising a recent unauthorised protest. |
They were arrested after protesting in November over a new controversial law that restricts demonstrations. | They were arrested after protesting in November over a new controversial law that restricts demonstrations. |
The move will deepen concern in Egypt about a growing crackdown on dissent, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo. | The move will deepen concern in Egypt about a growing crackdown on dissent, says the BBC's Orla Guerin in Cairo. |
Controversial | Controversial |
The three well-known activists have long called for greater democracy in Egypt. | |
Mr Maher and Mr Adel were founding members of the 6 April Youth Movement, which led protests to remove long-time President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. | Mr Maher and Mr Adel were founding members of the 6 April Youth Movement, which led protests to remove long-time President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. |
The three were among a group of demonstrators outside the upper house of parliament in late November protesting over the new law, which states that public gatherings of more than 10 people must be authorised. | The three were among a group of demonstrators outside the upper house of parliament in late November protesting over the new law, which states that public gatherings of more than 10 people must be authorised. |
The military-installed government has defended the law, saying it is not intended to limit the right to demonstrate but rather to "protect the rights of protesters". | The military-installed government has defended the law, saying it is not intended to limit the right to demonstrate but rather to "protect the rights of protesters". |
But its opponents say the law has in effect replaced a recently expired state of emergency, and is stricter than the measures in place during the rule of Hosni Mubarak. | |
The men are the first to be jailed under the new law. The court in Cairo found them guilty of holding a demonstration without authorisation and attacking police officers. | The men are the first to be jailed under the new law. The court in Cairo found them guilty of holding a demonstration without authorisation and attacking police officers. |
State-run television said the men had been sentenced to three years' hard labour. They have also been ordered to pay a $7,000 (£4,000) fine each. | State-run television said the men had been sentenced to three years' hard labour. They have also been ordered to pay a $7,000 (£4,000) fine each. |
As the verdict was read out, the courtroom erupted with chants of "Down, down with military rule! We are in a state, not in a military camp", Reuters news agency reports. | As the verdict was read out, the courtroom erupted with chants of "Down, down with military rule! We are in a state, not in a military camp", Reuters news agency reports. |
Until recently, the main targets for arrests by the authorities had been Islamists, many of whom continue to protest over the ousting by the military of the Muslim Brotherhood-backed government of Mohammed Morsi in the summer after weeks of mass protests. | Until recently, the main targets for arrests by the authorities had been Islamists, many of whom continue to protest over the ousting by the military of the Muslim Brotherhood-backed government of Mohammed Morsi in the summer after weeks of mass protests. |
But recently dozens of liberal activists have been rounded up, our correspondent says. | But recently dozens of liberal activists have been rounded up, our correspondent says. |
The government maintains it is on the path to democracy, but that is not how it looks to many Egyptians, she adds. | The government maintains it is on the path to democracy, but that is not how it looks to many Egyptians, she adds. |