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leading anti-Mubarak activists jailed for 3 years in Egypt

Updated on : 22-12-2013 09:15 PM

Three top activists who spearheaded the 2011 revolution that toppled Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak have been sentenced to three years in jail for organising illegal demonstrations, the first such verdict under a new controversial protest law.

Founder of 6th April Youth movement Ahmed Maher, member Mohamed Adel and long-time activist Ahmed Douma were charged with rioting and allegedly assaulting security forces during an unauthorised protest held here last month. The three were fined 50,000 Egyptian pounds (USD 7,100) each, judicial sources said. The activists chanted "down with the military regime," as a court here pronounced its verdict, official news agency MENA reported.  The military-backed interim regime last month approved the controversial protests law that requires demonstrators to seek advance approval from the interior ministry.  The three men were the first pro-democracy activists to go on trial amid months-long deadly crackdown on Islamists after the military on 3rd July ousted Mohammed Morsi, the country's first democratically elected President.  They had supported the ouster of Morsi, whom they accused of betraying the 2011 revolution that toppled Egypt's three decades long President Mubarak.