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Egypt anti-protest law: Jail sentences upheld for April 6 movement founder and two others over violent November demonstration

Appeals court confirms three-year sentences for activists convicted for breaking controversial law banning most protests

An Egyptian appeals court yesterday upheld three-year prison sentences for three prominent activists charged with violating a controversial law restricting protests.

The trio, including April 6 movement founder Ahmed Maher, rose to prominence in the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.

After the army overthrew Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July, the interim government jailed them for violating a law banning all but police-sanctioned protests.

Mr Maher, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Douma were charged with organising an unauthorised and violent protest in November, days after the passage of the law.

Another prominent left-wing activist, Alaa Abdel Fattah, is standing trial on similar charges.

Ahmed Seif, lawyer for Maher and his co-defendants, said they would appeal the ruling before the Court of Cassation and if that fails would take the case to the African Court of Human and People’s Rights.

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