Detained activist and blogger Alaa Abdel-Fatah (Photo:internet)
A Cairo appeals court has rejected Saturday a recusal request by activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah in a case related to charges of organising an illegal protest.
Abdel-Fattah was also fined LE5,000.
Abdel-Fattah, along with 24 others, face charges of illegal protesting, attacking a public employee whilst doing his job, sabotaging public property, attacking Captain Emad Tahoon and stealing his two-way radio.
Cairo Criminal court is expected to resume the case after the rejection of the recusal request.
The charges relate to a protest against military trials for civilians outside the Shura Council in Cairo in November 2013.
The protest was the first to be dispersed by force in accordance with a controversial new protest law issued in the same month, which criminalises unauthorised public demonstrations.
The No to Military Trials group claimed responsibility for organising the protest, but Abdel-Fattah was charged with being the protest organiser.
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