Egyptian faces five years in jail for Facebook posts

Bassyouni's trial comes amid a crackdown on freedom of expression ahead of 28 November elections

Amnesty International:

Amnesty International today called on the Egyptian authorities to stop the trial in a military court of a Facebook user facing up to five years in prison after he published public information on Egypt’s military service.

Ahmed Hassan Bassyouni, 30, appeared before a military court Tuesday 24 November charged with revealing military secrets, for establishing a Facebook group on carrying out military service and answering questions on the military without permission.

The name of the Facebook group, the ‘Conscription and Mobilization Department’, is identical to that of the official body in charge of Egyptian military service. However, Ahmed Hassan Bassyouni is believed to have made it clear that his was not an official government website.

“It appears that Ahmed Hassan Bassyouni is being tried solely for publishing information readily available in the public domain and often published in local newspapers. If this is the case, Amnesty International would consider him a prisoner of conscience”, said Amnesty International.

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