CAIRO, June 11 (Aswat Masriya) Prominent Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah and 24 others were sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison on charges of violating the protest law on Wednesday.

Abdel Fattah is accused of protesting without permit and attacking and resisting the authorities among other crimes.

The defendants were arrested after the authorities dispersed a demonstration denouncing military trials for civilians and the protest law outside the Shura Council on November 26.

Investigations have revealed that Abdel Fattah, who was released in March, attacked a police officer, withdrew his Walkie-Talkie and helped other defendants escape, the court said. 

A protest law passed towards the end of last year obliges demonstrators to inform the authorities of their intention to assemble three days prior to their scheduled events.