Egyptian appeals court cancels five-year jail terms for 47 over island protests
CAIRO- An Egyptian appeals court on Tuesday cancelled five-year prison terms handed to 47 people earlier this month for protesting a government decision to transfer two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, judicial sources said.
A lower misdemeanours court had sentenced them to five years in prison and a fine of 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($11,261.39) each on May 14 for demonstrating against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's decision to hand over Tiran and Sanafir islands.
The appeals court voided the jail sentences but kept the fines. Defence lawyer Nour Fahmy told Reuters the accused would appeal for a second and final time in an effort to get the fines cancelled as well.
