Egypt jails three prominent activists Sunday Dec 22,2013

  

Political activists Ahmed Maher (in white hat), Ahmed Douma (L) and Mohamed Adel (R) of the 6 April movement look on from behind bars in Abdeen court in Cairo

Three prominent Egyptian activists from the 2011 uprising that led to the fall of Hosni Mubarak have been sentenced to three years in jail on Sunday Dec 22,2013

The three activists -

• Ahmed Maher
• Ahmed Douma and 
• Mohamed Adel 

were found guilty of organising a recent unauthorised protest

State-run television said the men had been sentenced to three years' hard labour. They have also been ordered to pay a $7,000 (£4,000) fine each

They were arrested after protesting in November over a new controversial law that restricts demonstrations.
The three were among a group of demonstrators outside the upper house of parliament in late November protesting over the new law, which states that public gatherings of more than 10 people must be authorised

The military-installed government has defended the law, saying it is not intended to limit the right to demonstrate but rather to "protect the rights of protesters".

Ahmed Maher and Mohamed Adel were founding members of the 6 April Youth Movement, which led protests to remove long-time President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.