Cairo, Feb 23 (IANS): An Egyptian activist was Monday sentenced to five years in prison following a retrial on a variety of charges, including taking part in an unauthorised protest in 2013.
Alaa Abdel Fattah, who played a key role during the 2011 uprising, and 24 others were originally sentenced in absentia in June 2014 to 15 years in jail and a fine of $13,000 only to be retried after the presiding appeal judge recused himself from the case in September, Al Ahram reported.
The 25 were accused of rioting, participating in unauthorised protests, possession of knives, disrupting the lives of citizens and exposing them to danger, attacking an employee while on duty and thuggery.
Abdel Fattah gained fame as a blogger and pro-democracy activist.