The Cairo Criminal Court scheduled during its Monday session the announcement of the verdict in the Shura Council case to 23 February. All 25 defendants standing trial, including Alaa Abdel Fattah, were arrested during the dispersal of a demonstration in front of the Shura Council on 26 November 2011. They were protesting against an article in the then-draft constitution which would allow for the military trial of civilians. The defendants stand accused of violating the Protest Law, issued by then-interim president Adly Mansour in November 2013. They also stand accused of "thuggery", acquiring weapons during the protest, blocking roads, and attacking a police officer and stealing his radio. Accordingly, all 25 defendants were sentenced in absentia last June to 15 years in prison. They were also handed an EGP 100,000 fine and put under surveillance for a period of five years. Later that month, after the initial conviction, the defendants were granted a retrial. The Cairo Criminal Court has repeatedly postponed the retrial since June 2014. Renowned activist Alaa Abdel Fattah turned to a partial hunger strike after 100 days of full hunger strike led to deteriorating health conditions, the detainee's family said on Wednesday. The detainee began his hunger strike to protest his detention over the controversial protest law.
