Conviction of ex-Egyptian presidential candidate Khaled Ali 'politically motivated'

The conviction of former Egyptian presidential candidate Khaled Ali on Monday was a politically motivated sentence to prevent him from standing for election in 2018, Amnesty International says.

Ali was sentenced to three months in prison on Monday after being found guilty of "violating public decency" over a photograph where he was celebrating a court victory after a decision to hand over control over two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia was reversed.

The jail term would prevent the prominent human rights lawyer from standing in the 2018 presidential elections if the verdict is confirmed on appeal.

"Khaled Ali's politically motivated conviction today is a clear signal that the Egyptian authorities are intent on eliminating any rival who could stand in the way of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's victory in next year's elections", Najia Bounaim, Amnesty International's Head of North Africa Campaigns, said. 

"It beggars belief that Khaled Ali, a prominent human rights lawyer and political activist, has been given a jail term simply for celebrating his victory in a court case".

Amnesty says Ali's trial was riddled with flaws, with the court issuing its decision without hearing the final pleadings of the defence lawyers or allowing them to cross-examine witnesses about disputed video evidence.

In May, Egypt detained dozens of opposition activists ahead of next year's presidential elections, including members of at least five different political groups across 17 cities in the country.

Ali ran in the 2012 election that brought to power Islamist President Mohammad Morsi, who was ousted a year later in a military coup led by Sisi.

Sisi came to power after winning presidential elections with 96 percent of the vote after standing largely uncontested.

Since then, rights and freedoms have been restricted, with rights groups and activists accusing Sisi of leading a brutal crackdown on Islamists and left-wing dissidents.