Before a prominent Egyptian opposition figure can face voters at the ballot box, he must face a trial in the country's courts. On Jan. 3, a misdemeanor court in Cairo heard testimony in the appeal trial of rights lawyer and presidential hopeful Khaled Ali but delayed making a decision until March 7. In September 2017, Ali was convicted of making an inappropriate hand gesture during anti-government demonstrations against the transfer of the Tiran and Sanafir Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia. The transfer incited anger and unrest among Egyptians, many of whom view it as a violation of their country's sovereignty. Ali and his team of lawyers contend that the conviction is unconstitutional and are appealing it, but he will face a three-month prison sentence and will not be able to run in the upcoming presidential election if it is upheld. 

The case has caused a stir in Egyptian politics as momentum builds before the presidential election. Next week, the Egyptian National Elections Commission will publish the presidential race timeline, including details on how to submit candidacy and begin campaigning. Though Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is expected to run for a second term, he has not announced his candidacy. Ali — popular among the educated and liberal classes in Egypt — has announced his intention to run, but the delayed court proceedings could prevent him from legally beginning his campaign, and, if his conviction is upheld, he won't be able to participate as a candidate or voter. Ali's supporters view the delayed verdict as a blatant attempt by the Egyptian government, working through the judiciary, to block a viable opposition candidate from running for president. 

Public demonstrations in Egypt are rare since the 2013 ousting of former Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's government, but Ali has demonstrated that he's capable of convincing his countrymen to turn out for protests, and he even gained the support of the liberal April 6 movement in November. Ali's supporters could respond angrily if he's unable to run, despite the fact that the Egyptian appetite for public protest is still low. But even if Ali's supporters are too dispirited or intimidated to take to the streets, Ali has managed to tap into an undercurrent of anti-government, anti-Sisi sentiment in Egypt. That sentiment has been buoyed by economic grievances and complaints about poor governance. If Ali is prohibited from running, his supporters will be looking for another alternative to show their displeasure with the government in Cairo.