Egyptian court sends prominent activist Ahmed Douma to jail for life

CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian court sentenced prominent liberal activist Ahmed Douma to life in prison on Wednesday, judicial sources said, part of a sustained crackdown on government opponents. Douma, a leading figure in the pro-democracy revolt that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak, was convicted of rioting, inciting violence and attacking security forces in late 2011. He was among protesters in Cairo and other cities who called on the military council which ruled Egypt for 18 months after Mubarak's ouster to give up power. Like several other prominent activists well-known in Egypt for their roles in the 2011 uprising, Douma has been jailed by every Egyptian leader since Mubarak: the military council, Islamist president Mohamed Mursi, and former army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, who went on to become elected president. Wednesday's ruling also included fining Douma 17 million Egyptian pounds ($2 million). Last month, a separate court handed down a three-year jail term for Douma and activists Ahmed Maher and Mohamed Adel.