Egypt's Court of Cassation upheld on Monday a one-year suspended sentence against prominent human rights activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who was convicted of illegal assembly and "displaying force" during the presidential campaign of 2012.
Abdel-Fattah was accused in 2014, along with his sister Mona Seif and ten other defendants, of torching and robbing the headquarters of former presidential candidate Ahmed Shafiq , as well as illegal assembly, attacking persons and using violence.
However, the courts convicted him only on charges of illegal assembly, attacking persons and using violence.
The arson attack took place during the presidential elections in 2012, after the Supreme Presidential Electoral Commissionannounced that Mubarak-era premier Shafiq and Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi had qualified for the presidential election runoff in June.
Abdel-Fattah is serving a five-year sentence in a separate case after he was convicted of violating the protest law, rioting disrupting the lives of citizens, exposing them to danger, attacking a public employee on duty, and thuggery.
The 2013 controversial protest law mandates up to three years in jail for violators. It is currently being appealed before the Court of Cassation.
Abdel-Fattah was an outspoken activist during the rule of ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and rose to prominence in the 18-day uprising against the long- time ruler.
His youngest sister Sanaa Seif was sentenced to three years in prison in 2014, also for illegally protesting.
Source: http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/1/64/129956/Egypt/Politics-/Cass...
