OVER 100 protesters were jailed for five years by two Cairo courts at the weekend after being convicted of taking part in peaceful anti-government demonstrations last month.
They were found guilty of breaking a 2013 law that effectively bans street protests.
Of the 101, 79 were fined 100,000 Egyptian pounds (£7,000) each and 54 were convicted and sentenced in absentia.
The sentences were passed late on Saturday, hours after another Cairo court sentenced 51 protesters to two years in jail for their part in last month’s demonstrations.
The protests were called to denounce to Egypt’s decision to hand over control of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia as part of a demarcation deal.
The agreement, negotiated in almost total secrecy, has prompted mounting criticism of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi.
Activists claim that the transfer was a surrender to oil-rich Saudi Arabia, which announced a multibillion-dollar aid package to Egypt last month.