World Bulletin Jordan's Rabaa activists get suspended jail terms A Jordanian court slapped three activists with suspended six-month jail terms each for distributing flyers bearing the four-finger "Rabaa" sign, symbolizing solidarity with supporters of ousted Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi, a lawyer for the defendants said Wednesday. Jordan's State Security court had earlier downgraded the charges against the defendants from "harming relations with a friendly country" to "possessing flyers," lawyer Abdel-Qader al-Khatib told The Anadolu Agency. He said the verdict was the first time for a Jordanian State Security Court to hand down a "suspended" sentence. Jordanian activists Hammam Qafisha, Ayman Bahrawi and Diaa Shalabi were all arrested in September 2013 after distributing flyers bearing the pro-Morsi "Rabaa" symbol. They were later released on bail pending trial on charges of "carrying out acts banned by the government" and "harming relations with a friendly country." Read more: http://www.worldbulletin.net/news/151972/jordans-rabaa-activists-get-suspended-jail-terms The Telegraph Hopes rise for Al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt Hopes are rising that three journalists for the Al-Jazeera network who were jailed for upwards of seven years by an Egyptian court may finally be released as an appeal opens into their case. The three - Peter Greste, an Australian former BBC journalist, Mohammed Fahmy, an Egyptian-Canadian, and Baher Mohamed - were arrested in Cairo's Marriott Hotel shortly after Christmas 2013 and accused of helping a "terrorist organization". The sentence in June of seven years for Mr Greste and Mr Fahmy, and ten for Mr Mohammed, drew stinging international criticism of Egypt's government and sparked press freedom campaigns around the world. The Court of Cassation in Cairo will hear their first appeal on New Year's Day. Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/11319397/Hopes-rise-for-Al-Jazeera-journalists-jailed-in-Egypt.html Press TV Muslim brotherhood barred from parliamentary elections Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has said he will not permit members of the Muslim Brotherhood to participate in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections. In an interview with state media, Sisi said the Egyptian nation will never accept officials of the Muslim Brotherhood to enter the country's parliament. He went on to say that members of the group may not even take part in the polls as independent candidates. Egypt‘s parliamentary elections are scheduled for early 2015. Read more: http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/12/31/392670/egypt-bans-brotherhood-from-elections/ Middle East Monitor Israeli media criticises Egypt ban of Rabbi Abu Hasira celebration Israeli media is continuing to voice anger at the Egyptian court decision banning the Jewish celebration of the birth of Rabbi Abu Hasira. The court also ruled that the remains of the rabbi - buried in the country's northern Behira province - shall not be transferred to Israel and that the rabbi's shrine shall be removed from the list of antiquities. Two years ago, Israel requested from Egypt – through UNESCO – the transfer of Abu Hasira's remains to Jerusalem. Israeli Channel 7 claimed that Egypt has long prevented the celebration, but that this time the court's decision means that Jews will be deprived from visiting his grave. The channel said the Egyptian court ignored a request by the United Nations to transfer the rabbi's remains to Jerusalem, on the grounds that it contradicts with the teachings of Islam. Read more: https://middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/16106-israeli-media-criticises-egypt-ban-of-rabbi-abu-hasira-celebration
