[JURIST] An Egyptian court on Monday upheld a one-year prison sentence against Hisham Kandil [Reuters backgrounder], the former prime minister of deposed leader Mohamed Morsi [JURIST news archive]. Kandil was imprisoned in April for failing to follow a court order [Reuters report] to re-nationalize a textile company sold by former president Hosni Mubarak [BBC profile; JURIST news archive]. Kandil’s administration argued that re-nationalizing the textile company would be extremely difficult, as the company had been dissolved since it was sold to a foreign investor. Egyptian courts have issued at least eleven rulings in the past two years ordering the government to reverse deals signed during Mubarak’s reign.

Although Egypt has faced political unrest since the Egyptian Revolution [JURIST backgrounder] began over two years ago, the conflict peaked in July after the military deposed president Morsi, suspended the nation’s constitution and installed an interim government. Last week an Egyptian court banned the Muslim Brotherhood [JURIST report] and ordered its assets confiscated as part of the military government’s crackdown on the group. Earlier that week JURIST guest columnist Liesel LeCates discussed [JURIST op-ed] whether recent sentences by an Egyptian military tribunal against supporters of Morsi were fair. Two weeks ago Egyptian police arrested a spokesperson [JURIST report] for the Muslim Brotherhood. Three weeks ago the government extended emergency laws [JURIST report] put in place in mid-August. Earlier in September an Egyptian court ordered the closure [JURIST report] of four media outlets, including an affiliate of Al Jazeera, for their alleged support of the Muslim Brotherhood.