An Egyptian court has jailed blogger and pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah for five years for breaking a protest law and assaulting a policeman

An Egyptian court has jailed blogger and pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah for five years for breaking a protest law and assaulting a policeman.

He was previously given a 15-year jail term, and was freed on bail last year.

Alaa Abdel Fattah gained fame during the 2011 uprising as a campaigner against military trials for civilians.

Al-Jazeera journalists Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed also appeared in the same court on Monday at the start of their retrial.

The men, who are accused of spreading false information and of helping the banned Muslim Brotherhood organization, were freed on bail earlier this month after more than a year behind bars. They are next due in court on 8 March.

Australian Peter Greste, the third journalist in the case, was freed on 1 February and deported to Australia.

Alaa Abdel Fattah was charged under laws that prohibit protests without prior government permission.

Rights groups say the charges are politically motivated and form part of a broader crackdown on dissent under President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, a former army chief.