U.S.-Egyptian Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Cairo

From her home in Washington DC, Hanaa Soltan said she felt an overwhelming sense of grief when an Egyptian court condemned her father to death and her U.S-Egyptian brother to life in jail for involvement in the outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Salah and Mohamed Soltan, sentenced on Saturday with 49 others, were among thousands detained after Islamist president Mohamed Mursi was toppled in 2013 by the military under Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who is now president. Sisi describes the Brotherhood as a major security threat. Her family has been running a campaign to free her 27-year-old brother, who has been on hunger strike in detention and has appeared emaciated in photographs. His U.S. citizenship has meant U.S. officials have called for his release, citing concerns about his health.
The court said Mohamed had supported the Islamist movement and transmitted false news. His family deny he was a member of the Brotherhood, unlike his father, who was a senior figure in the group.
Hanna said Mohamed had joined protests in Egypt and objected to "the return of military rule. He became a de facto citizen journalist, helping foreign correspondents cover the events." He was detained in August 2013.