Egyptian opposition leader to remain in jail

A Cairo court on Tuesday rejected a petition to secure the release of jailed politician Ayman Nour, saying Nour’s health is not in danger, according to Reuters.

The court said 42-year-old Nour, who suffers from diabetes, is not at risk as long as he continues receiving medical treatment while serving a five-year sentence.

Nour, founder of the liberal Ghad party, was the main challenger to President Hosni Mubarak in the country’s first multi-candidate presidential election in 2005. He came in a distant second with about 8 percent of the vote.

“We will appeal against the ruling, however it’s obvious now that however strong the medical reports are, it doesn’t have anything to do with the decision,” Gameela Ismail, Nour’s wife, said. “There is no medical treatment because there is no hospital inside the prison.”

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