Jailed Islamist women to go free, Egyptian court rules
- 11 years ago
They had been sentenced to 11 years behind bars. Amid outrage on the streets, fourteen Islamist women were given a stiff sentence for demonstrating in Egypt.
Protests are a sensitive issue in Egypt after street demonstrations helped topple two presidents in less than three years.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE DETAINEE, SAYING:
"They are claiming the Interior Ministry gave us these flowers. Yes, the Interior Ministry did give us flowers in the form of an 11-year jail sentence each. It's our loved ones and friends who brought us these flowers. This is a flower for Egypt because we love it."
But on Saturday those sentences were slashed to a one year suspended sentence.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JUDGE PRESIDING OVER CASE READING FINAL RULING, SAYING:
"Each of the charged will serve a one-year suspended jail term ."
Once the paperwork is completed, they will all be released.
Protests are a sensitive issue in Egypt after street demonstrations helped topple two presidents in less than three years.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE DETAINEE, SAYING:
"They are claiming the Interior Ministry gave us these flowers. Yes, the Interior Ministry did give us flowers in the form of an 11-year jail sentence each. It's our loved ones and friends who brought us these flowers. This is a flower for Egypt because we love it."
But on Saturday those sentences were slashed to a one year suspended sentence.
(SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) JUDGE PRESIDING OVER CASE READING FINAL RULING, SAYING:
"Each of the charged will serve a one-year suspended jail term ."
Once the paperwork is completed, they will all be released.