Al-Galaa Military Court in Ismailia has sentenced Youssef Nada to three months in prison and released him for time served. Nada had been held for four months on remand.
Nada was being tried on charges of assaulting armed forces officers. He is the son of Nada Fathy Nada, a blind imam. The elder Nada had been facing problems with the military since 2008, when he bought land near a military base in the 10th of Ramadan area.
The army allegedly attacked the Nada house while it was being built, and several times after its completion, despite Nada obtaining several court verdicts supporting his ownership claims.
According to a report by the No to Military Trials for Civilians movement, military forces again attacked on 25 September 2012 and when Youssef tried to defend his father he was severely beaten and arrested.
According to the report, during this attack the military shot at Nada’s family using live ammunition and dragged the man through the streets.
The report alleges military police personnel led by Captain Ahmed Hindawy tortured Youssef Nada at the headquarters of the army’s Infantry Division 16.
Youssef has since been in prison and received no treatment. The case was transferred to a military criminal court and the first session was on 18 December 2012. He was released on 21 January having already served more time than sentenced.
Dozens of protesters gathered in front of the military courthouse in Ismailia to display solidarity with Nada as well as Sinai-based journalist and No to Military Trials member Mohamed Sabry.
The court postponed Sabry’s case to 29 January, when the testimony of witnesses will be heard.
Sabry is standing trial for “entering a prohibited military zone and filming a military facility” following his arrest last Friday.
He was arrested near the border city of Rafah. He was reporting on the soldiers killed on the border in August. The military prosecution immediately referred him to a military misdemeanour court.
