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Egypt Confirms Jail Terms for Police over Activist Death

An Egyptian court upheld Wednesday 10-year jail terms against two policemen convicted of killing an activist whose death rallied protesters in the 2011 revolt that toppled ex-strongman Hosni Mubarak.

In March 2014, a lower court handed the two policemen the jail terms after a retrial for the manslaughter and torture of Khalid Saeed in 2010 at an Internet cafe in the Mediterranean city of Alexandria.

The Court of Cassation rejected the policemen's appeal against that verdict, a judicial official said, adding that Wednesday's ruling was final.

Saeed's death galvanized protests against Mubarak after pictures emerged online of the 28-year-old's mangled face.

The then government further enraged Mubarak's opponents when it tried to cover up the killing by alleging he choked on a bag of drugs.

A forensic report issued later said he died of asphyxiation after being beaten, and that the packet of drugs was thrust in his mouth when he was unconscious.

A Facebook group entitled "We are all Khaled Saeed" helped organize the 18-day protests that drove Mubarak's police force from the streets and forced him to resign in February 2011.

But Saeed's sister, Zahra, said the 10-year jail term was insufficient.

"Justice will be served only when they receive a death sentence as they killed my brother," she told AFP.

She said she would also file a case against the interior ministry demanding compensation for her brother's death.

Source: Agence France Presse


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