Egyptian Activist Alaa Abdel Fattah Sentenced to 15 Years in Jail

Leading activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for violating a protest law and other charges, according to a lawyer.

Abdel Fattah, one of the most prominent activists in the 2011 revolution against president Hosni Mubarak and co-founder of the April 6 Youth Movement, was reportedly tried in absentia. His sister Mona Seif said the activist was outside the court when the sentence was passed.

The ruling comes just three days after former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was inaugurated as Egypt's president, after winning a landslide election.

Abdel Fattah was accused of violating the controversial Protest Law, of acquiring weapons during a protest, illegal assembly, blocking roads and attacking a police officer and stealing his radio.

He was arrested on 28 November 2013 for a rally against Article 198 of the constitution, which allows the military trial of civilians under certain circumstances. The protest took place in front of the Shura Council on 26 November and was attended by several youth groups.

Abdel Fattah and co-defendant Ahmed Abdel Rahman were held in custody until March 2014. They were then released on bail. The activist was previously arrested under the Mubarak regime after he called for an independent judiciary.