Saad Eddin Ibrahim, 2001 News

sociologist and human rights activist, was convicted in May of defaming Egypt, accepting money from the European Union without authorization, and embezzlement. He was sentenced to seven years in jail by a Cairo, Egypt, court. Ibrahim—as well as many others throughout Egypt—spoke out against the 1995 elections, which were widely criticized as rigged. In addition, an EU audit reported the funds were used properly, for voter registration. The conviction, which was rendered after only one hour, outraged many human rights groups.