Police Officer Convicted of Killing Activist Al-Sabbagh Receives a 10-Year Prison Sentence

A Cairo Criminal Court has issued a verdict of a 10-year prison sentence against the police officer convicted of killing political activist Shaimaa Al-Sabbagh.

This is the second verdict to be issued after a previous verdict was revoked by the appeals court granting the police officer a retrial.

Al-Sabbagh was peacefully demonstrating along with other protesters from the Socialist Popular Alliance political party on 24 January 2015. The police dispersed the protest with tear gas and birdshot pellets, killing Al-Sabbagh.

The protest aimed at laying a wreath of flowers at Tahrir square at the eve of the fourth anniversary of 25 January revolution. They were chanting, “Bread, freedom, human dignity”.

In August 2015, another criminal court released a verdict of a 15-year prison sentence against the police officer. However, he appealed the verdict and was granted a retrial in February 2016 despite a plethora of evidence, including footage and photos, proving him guilty, according to Al-Sabbagh’s lawyer.

The new verdict can also be appealed.

The general prosecution had directed several charges against the police officer including intended murder.

Subscribe to our newsletter