The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights on Friday called on the country's military rulers to release the activist Alaa Abdel Fatah who has been jailed on charges of inciting sectarian violence dpa reported
"The continued referral of civilians to military tribunals constitutes a glaring violation of international norms and the right to a fair trial," the group said in a statement.
On Sunday, Egypt's military prosecutors ordered Abdel Fatah to jail for 15 days for questioning on charges of "disturbing social security and inciting attacks on military forces" during largely Christian protests in central Cairo on October 9.
Abdel Fatah refused to answer the questions posed by the military prosecutors, questioning their authority to probe civilians.
Egypt's military rulers are under intense pressure to stop referring civilians to military courts, whose rulings cannot be appealed.
About 12,000 civilians have been prosecuted by the military since former president Hosny Mubarak was toppled by a popular uprising in February, according to Egyptian human rights advocates.