Egyptian Court Sentences Activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah To 5 Years In Prison

CAIRO (AP) — An Egyptian court sentenced an icon of the country’s 2011 revolt to five years in prison Monday, continuing a crackdown on dissent in the country.

The verdict came in the retrial of well-known activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, who earlier received a 15-year prison sentence for taking part in an unauthorized protest and allegedly assaulting a police officer.

The courtroom erupted after the verdict, with some shouting: “Down with oppression!” One man collapsed in the gallery as Abdel-Fattah’s family and friends continued shouting. Police ultimately ordered everyone to clear the courtroom.

Abdel-Fattah is a prominent blogger who has been a vocal government critic. The charges against him stem largely from a law prohibiting protests in Egypt without prior government permission, a measure that came after the military overthrew Islamist President Mohammed Morsi in 2013. Activists and rights groups have criticized the law as a way to stop all dissent.

Abdel-Fattah previously said his trial, which includes 19 other defendants and five people being tried in absentia, was a farce. He has been on a hunger strike.

A robbery charge Abdel-Fattah faced was dropped. Ahmed Abdel-Rahman, another defendant on trial with him, received a five-year sentence as well, as the others charged received three-year sentences.