France concerned over Egyptian sentencing of activists

France on Monday expressed concern over the sentencing to stiff jail terms of three human rights activists in Egypt and urged Egyptian authorities to respect commitments on public freedoms and freedom of opinion and expression. The three activists, Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Duma and Mohammed Adel were given three years for violating a law against demonstrations that was passed in November. "France shares the concerns expressed by the United Nations Secretary-General and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights concerning this law. "The verdicts pronounced yesterday confirm these concerns," Deputy Foreign Ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani said in a briefing Monday. The official reiterated a call that people in Egypt should be allowed to demonstrate freely and peacefully if they respect the requirements of public security.