Egyptian journalists held a silent demonstration in front of a police institute in southern Cairo where trials are being held, due to security forces’ refusal to admit them inside for coverage.

The journalists were protesting treatment which they say has become routine at the Institute for Low-Ranking Police Officers, a trial venue used for cases from different Egyptian governorates.

The institute is close to Cairo's famous Tora prison, where many Muslim Brotherhood figures are held, as well as members of ousted president Hosni Mubarak’s regime.

Journalists were attempting to cover the appeal session for three prominent Egyptian activists, Ahmed Douma, Ahmed Maher and Mohamed Adel, who were sentenced to three years in jail for organising an illegal protest and assaulting police officers.

Egyptian law stipulates that trials are open to the public unless the head of the court decides otherwise.

The trial of 132 Muslim Brotherhood supporters from Kafr El-Sheikh is also taking place at the facility on Monday.