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Alaa Abdel Fattah: Egypt jails activist-blogger for five years Alaa Abdel Fattah: Egypt jails activist-blogger for five years
(35 minutes later)
An Egyptian court has jailed blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, who played a key role during the 2011 uprising, for five years for breaking protest laws. An Egyptian court has jailed blogger and pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah for five years for breaking a protest law and assaulting a policeman.
He was previously given a 15-year jail term, but was freed on bail last year. He was previously given a 15-year jail term, and was freed on bail last year.
Alaa Abdel Fattah gained fame as a blogger and pro-democracy campaigner against former President Hosni Mubarak. Alaa Abdel Fattah gained fame during the 2011 uprising as a campaigner against military trials for civilians.
Separately, Al-Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have appeared in an Egyptian court for a brief hearing before their retrial. Al-Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed also appeared in the same court on Monday at the start of their retrial.
The men were freed on bail earlier this month after more than a year behind bars. Their retrial was due to have started today. The men were freed on bail earlier this month after more than a year behind bars. They are next due in court on 8 March.
After a short hearing their case has now been postponed to 8 March. The journalists are accused of spreading false information and of helping the banned Muslim Brotherhood organisation.
The journalists are accused of spreading false information and of helping the banned Muslim Brotherhood.
Australian Peter Greste, the third journalist in the case, was freed on 1 February and deported to Australia.Australian Peter Greste, the third journalist in the case, was freed on 1 February and deported to Australia.
Court uproar
Alaa Abdel Fattah was charged under laws that prohibit protests without prior government permission.
He was accused of organising an illegal protest in 2013, and of assaulting a policeman.
Rights groups say the charges are politically motivated and form part of a broader crackdown on dissent under President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief.
Other defendants on trial with Abdel Fattah received sentences ranging from three to five years.
There was uproar in the courtroom after the verdicts, with supporters of the defendants calling for an end to military rule in Egypt.
Defence lawyers said they would appeal against the ruling.
'Sham trial'
Rights groups have also criticised the case against the al-Jazeera journalists, describing it as an assault on press freedom.
At their original trial, Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy were sentenced to seven years in prison. Mr Mohamed received an additional three-year sentence on a separate charge involving possession of weapons.
The defendants denied the charges, describing their trial as a sham.
Their convictions were overturned on 1 January, when the courts ordered a retrial. Exactly one month later, Mr Greste was released and deported to Australia.
Several students have also been held in the same case. The students deny working for al-Jazeera but it is thought that material filmed on their phones was used by the network.