Cairo (CNN) -- An Egyptian military court has sentenced an activist blogger critical of the army to three years in prison, and it did so without his lawyers present, a development that drew stiff condemnation by human rights groups. 

Maikel Nabil, who was sentenced Monday morning, had been arrested on March 28 and charged with defaming the army and spreading false information, according to his lawyer, Adel Ramadan. 

A general in charge of the "Morale Affairs Directorate" of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces said on television that "Nabil had used 'inappropriate language' and defamed the military, and that his calls for an end to military conscription would have a negative effect on the youth of Egypt," according to Human Rights Watch. 

Joe Stork, deputy Middle East director at Human Rights Watch, said the sentence "may be the worst strike against free expression in Egypt since the (Hosni) Mubarak government jailed the first blogger for four years in 2007." 

His group, which issued a statement on the sentence, said Nabil's trial "has serious implications for freedom of expression on the internet more generally and in particular the ability to expose military abuses." 

"The sentence is not only severe, but it was imposed by a military tribunal after an unfair trial," Stork said. 

State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Tuesday that the U.S. government is "deeply concerned" about Nabil's sentence. "This is not the kind of progress we're looking for," he said. 

Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said Nabil's imprisonment "calls into question whether a democratic transition is under way in Egypt." 
Who is  Maikel Nabil?
When was he arrested?
what for?
does he have a lawyer?
what is his name?
who directs the Middle East division of HRC?
did Joe Stork think the trial was fair?
who made a statement for the State Department?
what did he say about the US reaction?
who isPJ Crowley
how long is the prison term>
were his lawyers there when he was sentenced?
were humanitarian groups concerned about this?
was the sentence given by a military court?
what country did this occur?
which leader imprisoned a blogger in 2007?
how long was that sentence for?
An activist blogger
Maikel Nabil, who was sentenced Monday morning, had been arrested on March 28 and charged with defaming the army and spreading false information
March 28
Maikel Nabil, who was sentenced Monday morning, had been arrested on March 28
Defaming the army and spreading false information
Maikel Nabil, who was sentenced Monday morning, had been arrested on March 28 and charged with defaming the army and spreading false information
Yes
charged with defaming the army and spreading false information, according to his lawyer, Adel Ramadan. 

Adel Ramadan
according to his lawyer, Adel Ramadan
unknown
unknown
No
"The sentence is not only severe, but it was imposed by a military tribunal after an unfair trial," Stork said. 
Mark Toner
State Department spokesman Mark Toner
The U.S. government is "deeply concerned" about the sentence
 the U.S. government is "deeply concerned" about Nabil's sentence. "This is not the kind of progress we're looking for," he said
Former State Department spokesman
Former State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley
Three years
An Egyptian military court has sentenced an activist blogger critical of the army to three years in prison
No
n Egyptian military court has sentenced an activist blogger critical of the army to three years in prison, and it did so without his lawyers present
Yes
and it did so without his lawyers present, a development that drew stiff condemnation by human rights groups.
Yes
 An Egyptian military court has sentenced an activist blogger critical of the army to three years in prison
Egypt
An Egyptian military court has sentenced
the (Hosni) Mubarak government
 the (Hosni) Mubarak government jailed the first blogger for four years in 2007." 

Four years
 since the (Hosni) Mubarak government jailed the first blogger for four years in 2007." 
