Egyptian Blogger and Activist Jailed for Five Years

0

egypt blogger

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, BBC reports.

He was previously given a 15-year jail term, but was freed on bail last year.

Alaa Abdel Fattah gained fame as a blogger and pro-democracy campaigner against former President Hosni Mubarak.

Separately, Al-Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed have appeared in an Egyptian court for a brief hearing before 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.

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.

Australian Peter Greste, the third journalist in the case, was freed on 1 February and deported to Australia.

Editor’s Picks  NGX Group, others pay condolence visits to Ogunbanjo, Wigwe’s families