Egypt court sentences at least 15 Americans in absentia in NGO case, jails one

Cairo:

An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced at least 15 US citizens in absentia to five years in jail and one American who stood on trial was jailed for two years in a case against foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Judge Makram Awad also ordered the closure of the NGOs, including the U.S.-based International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute.

He gave five-year sentences in absentia to 11 other defendants identified by the charge sheet as nationals of Norway, Serbia, Germany and Arab states. At least 11 Egyptians were given one-year suspended sentences.