(Photo by Mohamed Omar)
Prominent activist Ahmed Douma, 6 April Youth movement founder Ahmed Maher and the movement’s political bureau member Mohamed Adel were each handed a three year sentence with hard labour and obliged to pay EGP 50,000 fine. The defendants will be under surveillance for three years after their release as well.
Abdeen Misdemeanour Court issued its verdict on Sunday during its session held in Non-commissioned Police Officers Institute in Tora.
Maher’s lawyer Nour Al-Din Fahmy said that they will appeal the verdict.
Fahmy added that the verdict of imprisonment is the maximum a defendant can be handed in misdemeanour court. While the fine concerns the total of all four charges.
The trio was found guilty of rioting, thuggery, using violence against Abdeen Courthouse security personnel, possession of rocks, which were considered by the court as melee weapons according to Fahmy and protesting without the Ministry of Interior’s approval.
The activists were referred to trial by Central Cairo Prosecution on 5 December.
The incidents date back to 30 November when protesters gathered in front of Abdeen Courthouse chanting against the Protest Law and calling for the release of the later-released “Shura Council detainees.”
Clashes broke out after a fight was triggered when Maher was assaulted near the main gate of the courthouse upon arrival.
Maher arrived with the intent of turning himself in for charges regarding his alleged participation in organising the Shura Council protest on 26 November, which he had denied and was subsequently released. However, the prosecution decided on 2 November to detain him for four days pending investigations regarding the Abdeen clashes.
Ahmed Douma was arrested on the morning of 3 December at his house in the Dar Al-Salam district and was taken to Al-Basateen Police Station, then to Zeinhom Court, where he was being investigated.
Adel was arrested on Wednesday evening during the raid on the Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR).
