DHAKA: Egypt’s public prosecutor referred three political activists to trial on Thursday on charges including protesting without permission, a judicial source said.

It was the first case of activists being charged under the provisions of a new law criticized for stifling the right to protest.

The activists charged on Thursday include Ahmed Maher, founder of the April 6 movement that helped ignite the historic 2011 uprising against former president Hosni Mubarak, and Ahmed Douma, another prominent dissident.

They are also charged with assaulting police, reports The Jerusalem Post.

BDST: 1640 HRS, DEC 05, 2013