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Alert

Blogger's detention extended; another activist summoned

(ANHRI/IFEX) - Cairo, 14 November 2011 - Egyptian human rights organizations condemn yesterday's decision by a military court to extend activist and blogger Alaa Abd El-Fattah's detention for an additional 15 days, pending investigation. The prosecution also summoned Ahmed Derag, a university professor and a leader of the National Association for Change, for investigation. The decision clearly shows that the Military Council is moving away from the democratic path, relying on its own absolute power rather than on the rule of law.

Nine months have passed since the popular uprising that toppled dictator Hosni Mubarak. The citizens' ambitions to establish a state based on the rule of law have now turned to anger and anxiety over the future under the apparently arbitrary policies of oppression exercised by the Military Council. These policies have resulted in thousands of innocent people suffering the unjust rulings of military courts, including young people, Alaa Abd El-Fattah among them, who joined forces to overthrow the dictator. Attempts have been made to discredit and slander pro-democracy movements and organizations such as the 6 April and Kefaya Movements, as well as human rights organizations such as the National Association for Change, whose member, Ahmed Derag, was summoned following the massacre at Maspero. The massacre, during which armed forces personnel were involved in the killing of at least 12 citizens by crushing them under military vehicles, has been seen by millions of people in Egypt and around the world.

Human rights organizations have signed onto a statement criticizing the military trials and calling for an investigation into the Maspero massacre.

To view the full statement, click here