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December 29, 2014

Egyptian Appeals Court Upholds Convictions, Reduces Jail Terms of Pro-Democracy Protesters 
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In another case involving a government crackdown, an Egyptian appeals
court has upheld the convictions of 23 pro-democracy activists for
rallying against the government's anti-protest law. The group took part
in a June demonstration calling for the release of political prisoners
and the annulment of a law that only allows government-approved
demonstrations. On Sunday, the activists' convictions were upheld, but
their sentences were reduced from three to two years. The 23 protesters
include Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, deemed by Amnesty International to
be "prisoners of conscience." The sentencing comes just days after the
United States delivered 10 Apache helicopters to the Egyptian government
as part of the military aid that resumed this year.

 

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