News roundup compiled by Miret el Naggar.

An Egyptian court last week sentenced four opposition newspaper editors to a year in prison and a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds (equal to $3500.) The editors were found guilty of "publishing false information likely to disturb public order."

"The recent sentences handed down by an Egyptian court on September 13 against four editors are part of a concerted campaign by the authorities to stifle criticism and reflect the urgent need for a revision of the country's controversial press law," said an Amnesty International statement.

The charges were evoked by a campaign in the independent and opposition newspapers during summer that discussed 79-year-old President Hosni Mubarak's health.

Leading the campaign, outspoken editor Ibrahim Eissa wrote a series of articles saying Mubarak's health was deteriorating and published medical reports that allegedly were Mubarak's. The campaign sparked a rumor that spread like wildfire among Egyptians, that Mubarak had died. For weeks after that it was the talk of the town.

In another example of democracy setback, security forces closed down Egypt's leading human rights and political freedom association.

Earlier this month Cairo's governor issued a decree to shut down the Association for Human Rights Legal Aid (AHRLA), citing a legal code that prohibits NGOs from receiving financial grants from foreign countries. The group's website was also suspended. The funds under investigation date back to 2003.

"Although Egypt is a member of the UN Human Rights Council, it is preventing its citizens from maintaining an association that combats human rights violations," said Human Rights deputy director for the Middle East Joe Stork.

AHRLA provided legal advice for victims and details human rights violations.

Finally, the state is currently studying a program that gives university deans and security forces powers to supervise student elections and strike out any students they deem problematic.

"It basically gives the university dean the right to strike out members of the Muslim Brotherhood student body, or any other group that goes against the wishes of ruling National Democratic Party," said Emad Mubarak, director of the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression. The list isn't a new invention though, it has been in the university code of law since 1979, universities will merely re-establish it.

Several clashes occurred between students and security forces last year during student union elections. Read more about it in our story.