Abdel Fattah given five years and human rights lawyer Mohamed al-Baqer and blogger Mohamed ‘Oxygen’ Ibrahim four years each by Emergency State Security Court
By MEE staff
Egypt’s Emergency State Security Court sentenced prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to five years in prison and human rights lawyer Mohamed al-Baqer and blogger Mohamed ‘Oxygen’ Ibrahim four on Monday, in trials widely condemned by human rights defenders.
The sentences are final and cannot be appealed.
Abdel Fattah, Baqer, and Ibrahim were convicted of “spreading false news undermining national security” by the court, which has extraordinary powers under Egypt’s state of emergency.
They were arrested in September 2019 and held in pre-trial detention for more than two years, which exceeds the maximum amount under Egyptian law. The time spent in pre-trial detention does not count towards the sentence to be carried out.
Abdel Fattah is a left-wing blogger, software developer, and icon of the 2011 revolution. He has had several intermittent jail terms since 2011 over participation in anti-government protests.
According to his sister, Mona, the activist addressed the court during the hearing and submitted three reports regarding various violations while in detention.
Abdel Fattah’s lawyer warned in September he was at risk of suicide over the conditions he was subjected to.
The judge did not deliver the sentences himself, Mona said, and access to the court was strictly restricted.
Middle East Eye