Twitter user convicted of insulting MOI

Prominent Twitter user Ahmed Anwar was found guilty of insulting the Ministry of Interior (MOI), misusing the internet and harassment on Thursday, the young accountant told Mada Masr.

He was able to suspend a three month jail sentence by paying a fine of LE10,000. 

The ministry filed the case against Anwar during former President Mohamed Morsi’s administration.

"I am a scapegoat, and the sentence against me is to make an example of me and whoever dares or even tries to speak up," Anwar asserted. "I will appeal.”

In 2012 Anwar tweeted a satirical video criticizing the MOI after the institution hosted a celebration honoring a number of actors and actresses. The video was titled, “The relation between actress Marwa and the Ministry of Interior and the state of lawlessness.”

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information issued a statement on Thursday condemning the “harsh” sentence.

Also on Thursday, 11 members of the April 6 Youth Movement were remanded into custody for 15 days pending investigations into charges of committing violent acts and organizing a protest without notifying the authorities.

The defendants are also accused of clashing with police forces during their protest in downtown Cairo on Wednesday, reported the state-run news portal Ahram Gate.

*An early version of this story incorrectly stated that Ahmad Anwar was sentenced to three months in jail with LE1,000 bail and an LE10,000 fine. The story and headline has now been corrected to reflect that Anwar was able to commute his sentence by paying a fine of LE10,000.