Egypt bans revolt group that spearheaded 2011 uprising

Members of the April 6 movement and liberal activists form a human chain against a law restricting demonstrations as well as the crackdown on activists and calling for the release of activists in detention in front of El-Thadiya Egyptian Presidential
Members of the April 6 movement and liberal activists form a human chain against a law restricting demonstrations as well as the crackdown on activists and calling for the release of activists in detention in front of El-Thadiya Egyptian Presidential in Cairo, on April 23, 2014. An Egyptian court on Monday, April 28, 2014, banned the April 6 youth movement that spearheaded the 2011 uprising against ousted president Hosni Mubarak and has protested against the current military-installed regime, a judicial official said. -- FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

CAIRO (AFP) - An Egyptian court on Monday banned the April 6 youth movement that spearheaded the 2011 uprising against ousted president Hosni Mubarak and has protested against the current military-installed regime, a judicial official said.

The court issued the ruling based on a complaint that accused the group of defaming the country and colluding with foreign parties.

April 6 had also opposed Islamist president Mohamed Mursi, who was toppled by the army in July, but turned on the military-installed regime when the authorities cracked down on dissidents.

Its leader Ahmed Maher was sentenced to three years in prison in December for violating a law that bans all but police-sanctioned protests.

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