Maher, Douma, Adel’s appeal hearing postponed to Feb 10

Monday's hearing of the appeal submitted by activists Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohamed Adel has been postponed to February 10.

Journalists, a human rights delegation and Maher’s wife were prevented from entering the courthouse for Monday’s session, the state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported. The Abdeen Misdemeanour Court said it postponed the session in order to hear the testimony of the commander of the Abdeen court guards.

The high profile activists are appealing a three-year prison sentence and a fine of LE50,000 after being found guilty of crimes related to violating the Protest Law in a speedy trial that lasted less than a month.

In December, the Abdeen Misdemeanors Court found the three men guilty of attacking the police and police property, use of force against the police and protesting in violation of the provisions of the Protest Law and Thuggery Law.

The charges relate to skirmishes that ignited outside the Abdeen Court at the end of November, when Maher went to hand himself in pursuant to a summons he had received following a demonstration outside the Shura Council on November 26 2013, which was violently broken up by the police. At least 51 were arrested in that confrontation, including Maher and activist Alaa Abd El Fattah, who were accused of calling for the protest.