Egypt activist jailed for ‘contempt’ of court

An Egyptian court has sentenced a prominent activist to three years in prison “for contempt” of the court after the defendant said his trial has become political.

The court issued the sentence against Ahmed Douma, 29, on Tuesday after he told the judges “to rescue themselves from the case because they have transformed it from a criminal one to a political one,” his lawyer Sameh Samir said in an interview.

Douma is already serving another three-year term for participating in a protest without permit.

Samir said Douma’s defense team stopped representing him after the presiding judge, Mohamed Nagi Shehata, ordered the lawyers to be put under investigation.

“Five members of the defense team were referred to the prosecution for insulting the judiciary in some previous sessions,” Samir added.

Judge Shehata has presided over several trials targeting the supporters of ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, which have ended in heavy sentences against the defendants.