The South Giza Criminal Court sentenced Saturday seven defendants to eight years in prison.
Three of those years were for allegedly “planning a terrorist attack” and the additional five years were for protesting and possessing documents that claimed the two Red Sea islands belong to Egypt.
The defendants, who were also fined EGP 500 as part of their sentence, were allegedly protesting against Egypt’s decision to transfer the sovereignty of Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia.
The court also accused them of blocking roads in the district of Kerdasa, and using religion to oppose the controversial maritime border demarcation deal between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
The seven defendants were arrested on 27 April, two days after hundreds took to the streets in Egypt opposing the deal. The protests that took place on 25 April witnessed dozens of arrests.
Dozens of other defendants with similar charges have stood in front of a court on charges of committing violence, spreading false news, and protesting. Several of them have been acquitted on bail, which amounted to thousands of Egyptian pounds.
Human rights lawyer Malek Adly has been detained since 5 May on charges related to spreading false news concerning the demarcation agreement.
Adly, among others, sought to take legal action against the demarcation, which they claim is illegal as the islands are Egyptian territory.
Previously, President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi called on Egyptians, including media outlets, to not discuss the Red Sea islands case again, arguing that the whole matter is now in the hands of parliament, which will in turn discuss the agreement and has the freedom to approve or refuse it.
