Egypt journalist gets 6-month suspended sentence

An Egyptian military official says a military court has given Sinai-based photojournalist Mohammad Sabry a six-month suspended sentence for filming military installations in the restive peninsula.

The official spoke Sunday on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to brief reporters.

Sabry was arrested in January by Egyptian border guards in the city of Rafah for filming military installations near the border with the Palestinian Gaza Strip. He was released on bail days later.

Since a popularly-backed coup ousted Islamist president Mohammad Mursi in July, many rights groups have expressed concern about restrictions on freedom of expression.

Earlier in October, award-winning journalist Ahmed Abu-Draa was given a similar sentence for endangering national security by spreading false information in his coverage of military operations against Islamic militants in Sinai.