A Cairo appeals court on Saturday acquitted 33 protesters previously sentenced to two years in prison. The protesters were among 300 others who were arrested in April for holding a large scale public demonstration against the surrendering of the Red Sea Island to Saudi Arabia. While the government cracked down on the demonstration, one of the largest since President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi was elected, the majority of the protesters have been freed, acquitted or released on bail.
Egypt has been internationally scrutinized in recent months over allegations of human rights infringements and free speech violations. This week an Egyptian court began the trial of a journalist union leader as well as two board members who were charged with spreading false news and harboring wanted reporters. Last month more than 100 Egyptian demonstrators were convicted for peacefully assembling without a permit. Three UN rights experts recently urged the Egyptian government to end its oppressive response towards human rights advocates in the country. In early May an Egyptian court sentenced six people, including three journalists, to death for allegedly leaking state secrets to Qatar. Last month Egypt's Court of Cassation overturned the five-year prison sentences of 35 Al-Azhar students, ordering a retrial. Earlier in April three UN human rights experts urged Egypt to cease its ongoing crackdown on humans rights defenders and organizations.
(Published by Jurist - June 5, 2016)