Egypt's top appeals court ordered a retrial for an Egyptian-American sociologist on Tuesday, overturning his conviction for tarnishing the country's image with his writings on democracy and for alleged financial crimes by his think tank.
Saad Eddin Ibrahim's conviction and sentencing to seven years in prison last year had been condemned by international human rights groups around. Additionally, the case had strained ties between Cairo and Washington.
In its ruling Tuesday, the Egyptian Court of Cassation, said at least five of its judges will preside over the retrial set to start on Jan. 7.
Ibrahim, who turned 64 on Tuesday and is in poor health, was convicted May 21, 2001 and sentenced to seven years in prison for tarnishing Egypt's image, accepting foreign money without government approval and embezzling funds. He was granted a retrial after an earlier appeal. The second trial ended July 29 with a conviction and the same seven-year sentence and he appealed again.
Following the second conviction, U.S. President Bush announced that to protest the Ibrahim case the United States would oppose aid to Egypt beyond the $2 billion that it receives from Washington each year as part of the Israeli-Egyptian peace treaty. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
