The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said today that Al-Waily appeal court will be hearing tomorrow the first appeal No 12 for the year 2012 submitted by Jaber Elsayed Jaber to challenge the cruel sentence issued by Al-Waily misdemeanor court against him for distributing a statement censuring the SCAF.

The public prosecution had referred Jaber to an urgent trial, just like the former regime of the toppled dictator used to do.

Jaber was arrested on Friday 23 December 2011 by individuals pro-the toppled dictator Mohamed Hosny Mubarak in a demonstration supporting the SCAF in Abbasya Square and was delivered to police for distributing publications censuring the SCAF and calling for resuming the Egyptian Revolution. He was submitted to the public prosecution which instead of releasing him in respect for his right to freedom of expression, referred him to an urgent trial on charges of "possession of publications disturbing public peace and security, terrorizing citizens and harming public interest by distributing leaflets against the SCAF.

In its urgent session held on 26 December, Al-Waily misdemeanor court sentenced Jaber to one year imprisonment, a fine of EGP 200 and a bail of EGP 1000 for susbension. ANHRI believes the trial was the quickest trial ever held, and that the court did not take into consideration the right to criticize, or the right to freedom of expression guaranteed by law and supposed to be restored by the Egyptian revolution.

The first session to review the appeal of that cruel sentence was fixed to be tomorrow 18 January 2012. ANHRI's lawyers will attend with Jaber to plea for his acquittal as he did not commit any crime except exercising his right to express his opinions freely.

ANHRI said: "there is no change in the performance of the public prosecution which referred Monir Hanna to trial with the charge of criticizing Mubarak in July 2009 to be sentenced to 3-year imprisonment without considering his rights to freedom of expression and political criticism, ANHRI then succeeded in acquitting him and relieving him of injustice"

ANHRI expects the appeal court to triumph for the freedom of expression, acquit Jaber Elsayed Jaber and assure that no authority is over criticism just for having the public prosecutor referring those who criticize it to urgent trials with false charges like the ones Jaber is facing.