A Cairo court on Monday fined two journalists from the Sout al-Omah newspaper over an article published last February. Abdel Halim Qandeel, the former editor of the newspaper and journalist Ahmed Aboul Khier were sued by filmmaker Akram al-Sobky over an article that criticized some aspects of his wedding. The court fined Qandeel and Aboul Kheir LE 10,000 ($1,800) and LE 15,000 ($2,700), respectively, but the two will not serve time in prison. Last October, the court handed the two journalists a one-year term in prison and a LE 1,000 each. The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI), an organization that works on issues related to freedom of speech in the region and which also has a legal branch, had appealed earlier court's ruling. “The sentence is a blow to the press freedom in Egypt considering that the published report is considered within criticism bounds,” ANHRI said in a statement. “We hoped that the misdemeanors appeals court would acquit both journalists and to endorse press freedom and the right to expression provided for all by virtue of laws and international treaties. “The sentence is very disappointing and is considered as the start sign to prosecute journalists for their opinions which is an unacceptable control on their right to criticism,” ANHRI said n a statement. BM