CAIRO: An Egyptian court on Tuesday sentenced at least 15 US citizens in absentia to five years in jail and one American who stood trial was jailed for two years in a case against foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
Judge Makram Awad gave five-year suspended sentences to 11 other defendants identified as nationals of Norway, Serbia, Germany and Arab states.
At least 11 Egyptians were given one-year suspended sentences.
The judge also ordered the closure of NGOs, including the US-based International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute.