An Alexandria court rejected Sunday a legal challenge presented by detained lawyer Mahienour El-Massry and journalist Youssef Shaaban, aimed at releasing them from prison.

The pair is currently serving a 15-month prison term in a case in which they were accused of breaking into the El-Raml police station in Alexandria.

On 31 May, the defendants were sentenced by an appeals court to one year and three months in prison, along with others, including Loay El-Kahwagy, on charges of assaulting police officers inside the El-Raml police station.

The case dates back to the Muslim Brotherhood’s year-long rule, but was re-opened following the 30 June protests. Last April, the court refused to grant Shaaban a release based on his medical condition. He suffers from Hepatitis-C.

“We don’t have a problem with prison, it only proves that we did something so influential that they come after us during our weak moments,” Shaaban’s wife, Ranwa, posted on her Facebook page a few hours before Sunday’s scheduled court session.

“Jail does not scare us, but we need to be treated in a humane manner so that we can live,” she added. The Press Syndicate organised rallies supporting Shaaban and calling for his release.