The five-year prison sentence of prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah raised questions over the state’s stance towards the 25 January Revolution.

On Monday, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Abdel Fattah to five years in prison, in addition to an EGP 100,000 fine over assaulting the police and illegal protesting.

Defendant Ahmed Abdel Rahman received the same sentence as Abdel Fattah, with 18 other defendants receiving sentences between three and five years. Four other defendants received 15 years in absentia, with all defendants receiving the same fine as Abdel Fattah and having their forced theft charge dropped.

An appeal against the verdict can be lodged by the defence within 60 days of the verdict’s date, according to lawyers.

All 25 defendants were initially sentenced in absentia in June to 15 years in prison, in addition to an EGP 100,000 fine.

Photos by Mahmoud Fekry