THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: The family of a jailed Egyptian blogger who has been on a 43-day hunger strike to demand his release from prison yesterday accused a military court in Cairo of effectively sentencing him to death by delaying his appeal.
Maikel Nabil, who is serving a three-year prison sentence for "insulting" the Egyptian military, had been due to appear before a tribunal that was to consider his conviction. But a judge postponed the case until next week because he did not have the necessary documents with him.
Mr Nabil, described by Amnesty International as a prisoner of conscience, has refused all food since August 23rd. According to rights groups, he is suffering from renal problems, anaemia and scabies as a result of his hunger strike.
The blogger has also told his family that he would refuse water if he was not released yesterday.
"Maikel is not going to make it to next week's hearing," his brother Mark was quoted as saying. "Every doctor we have spoken to has said no one can last more than 43 days without food."
"This is a death sentence for Maikel because he said if he weren't released on 4th October he'd refuse water." » | Adrian Blomfield, Middle East Correspondent | Tuesday, October 04, 2011
