Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Eissa has been sentenced to two months imprisonment. But the case is far from over. Index on Censorship reports

The Egyptian Journalists Syndicate has said it will appeal the sentence of two months imprisonment passed on editor Ibrahim Eissa, editor of Al Dostour.

‘We disapprove of sending journalists to prison and therefore are taking measures to suspend this order,’ said spokesman Ahmed Anany.

Eissa was found guilty after publishing rumours about President Mubarak’s health.

In a bizarre twist today, sources have reported that Eissa has been told not to hand himself in to begin his sentence.

Ameira Howeidy, a correspondent with Egyptian newspaper Al Ahram, told Index on Censorship:

‘The authorities want to punish Ibrahim Eissa, but by doing so Egypt will look bad if he serves the two month prison sentence. For his part, Eissa is more than willing to embarrass the authorities and expose claims that the regime tolerates free speech by going to prison. Today he is Egypt’s most controversial journalist and all eyes are on him. What will it look like for the Mubarak regime when hundreds of local and international journalists and cameramen are there when he turns himself in? And for what? For reporting on nationwide rumours last summer that the 83-year-old Hosni Mubarak is in bad health.

‘Now my information is that the interior ministry has requested Eissa not to turn himself in yet! Either the authorities realise they will look bad and Eissa will look like a hero — so they don’t want him to go to jail yet — or they prefer to suspend the sentence (and have it as a sword hanging over Eissa’s head) until the highest court looks into the appeal, which could take years.’

For background, read Egypt’s Witch Hunt