Egypt

Officer accused of protesting against military council jailed

A military court sentenced an officer who joined demonstrations against Egypt's military rulers to six years in prison with hard labor on Tuesday, state-run newspaper Al-Ahram reported.

Ahmed Shoman will also lose a promotion.

The court convicted Shoman of engaging in conduct unbecoming of an officer, shooting and disseminating footage on the media and the internet, and absenteeism from his post to join protesters in Tahrir Square.

Shoman was also charged with abandoning military orders, conveying political views through satellite channels in violation of a law that bans military personnel from conveying political views, and for wearing camouflage uniform banned outside military units.

Shoman joined protesters demanding the swift handover of power to civilians in November 2011. He handed himself over to military police at the end of the same month.

The officer also joined protests calling for the ouster of President Mubarak on 11 February 2011, one day before Mubarak left office.

The military council pardoned him based on demands by protesters sympathizing with him.

Egyptian news reports say that 22 army officers are in military prisons for joining demonstrations against the military council.

Family members and activists in solidarity with the imprisoned officers organized many protests demanding their release, contending that the officers have sworn allegiance to Egypt and not the military council.

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