5 jailed in Egypt for protesting Tiran, Sanafir transfer

An Egyptian court yesterday sentenced five Egyptians to two years in jail after they were found guilty of violating the demonstration law in Alexandria where they protested against the transfer of the Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia, Al-Quds Al-Araby reported.

The defendants were arrested on 16 June by Egyptian security services near the Al-Qaed Ibrahim Mosque in Alexandria. That day several opposition parties had called for popular demonstrations in the country to protest against the deal but heavy security restrictions made it difficult for protesters to gather.

A member of the defence team at yesterday’s trial, Farah Nader, said that as well as issuing prison sentences the Alexandria Misdemeanour Court fined the defendants 50,000 Egyptian pounds ($2,700) each.

Read: Egypt court allows transfer of Tiran, Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia

Nader said that the defendants were sentenced yesterday for staging a protest without receiving permission, noting that this sentence could be appealed within 15 days.

In November 2013 then interim president Adly Mansour issued the protest law which stipulated that Egyptians must submit written notification in advance of protests and ultimately gave security services the power to cancel protests. Permission is rarely, if ever, given.