Three of Egypt's most prominent youth activists were beaten in the courthouse by their guards before a hearing Monday in the appeal of their prison sentence, their lawyer said, The Los Angeles Times reported.
Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma and Mohammed Adel, leading figures in Egypt's 2011 uprising, have been imprisoned since being sentenced in December to three years, according to the Times. They were the first activists tried under a controversial protest law enacted late last year.
The law imposes strict restrictions on any public gathering, and imposes hefty fines and heavy sentences for violators, the Times reported. The military-backed government defended it as a measure needed to restore law and order.
The majority of detainees are supporters of Islamist President Mohammed Morsi, who was ousted by the military in July, following mass protests against him, according to the Times.
Rights activists say that abuse is common in detention, often taken out on those who challenge their guards, the Times reported. The three activists have complained of mistreatment before, saying they were denied warm clothes in prison and suffered other forms of abuse.
The defendants said their guards beat them because they complained that their handcuffs were too tight, and that they should be taken off in the courtroom before Monday's session, according to the Times.
Belal said the defense team threatened to withdraw until the judge examined their injuries and registered their complaint, the Times reported. Although the judge did so, he still proceeded with the case and didn't order an investigation into the incident or a change of guards.
"He didn't do anything, except promise he would refer the incident to investigation. In the end, he didn't," said Belal, the Times reported. "He just wanted us to proceed."
He said Douma showed signs of having been beaten in the stomach and neck and Adel in the knee, according to the Times.
