Co-founder of the 6 April Youth Movement Mohamed Adel filed an official request from prison Saturday that the cassation session for his three year sentence for breaking the Protest Law be reviewed by an international court.
A leading member of 6 April who preferred not to mention his name said that Adel’s demand was a “satirical response” to interim president Adly Mansour’s statement that the Protest Law is in line with international standards and is applied in a number of European countries.
Defence lawyer Amr Imam said, if needed, the team intends to take the case to international courts after all steps in Egyptian courts of all levels are completed.
Adel and fellow activists Ahmed Maher and Ahmed Douma were convicted of protesting without a Ministry of Interior permit, rioting, “thuggery”, using violence against Abdeen Courthouse security personnel, and possessing melee weapons. Courts denied an appeal 7 April to overturn the protester’s three year sentence and EGP 50,000 fine.
Maher has been detained since 30 November when he turned himself in at Abdeen Courthouse. Douma was arrested at his residence in Dar Al-Salam on 3 December, and Mohamed Adel was arrested on 18 December 18 after security forces raided the headquarters of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights.
Last 6 April, the two fronts of the youth movement coordinated their celebration of the movement’s sixth anniversary. Both fronts demanded the release of all political detainees including the founders of the movement and called for the annulment of the Protest Law.
