News ID: 312054
Publish Date: 15 August 2011 - 07:22

Egyptian Activist Arrest Sparks Protest

Navideshahed: Egyptian activists have gathered outside a military court to protest against the detention of a prominent activist and blogger charged with insulting the ruling junta and inciting violence.

The 26-year-old Asmaa Mahfouz was detained and interrogated for three hours on Sunday and released later in the day on a bail of $3,356, Reuters reported.

Protesters gathered outside the prosecutor's office in Cairo following Mahfouz's release, chanting "down, down with the rule of the military".

She is being questioned for "speaking inappropriately about the military council and for using defamatory and offensive insults against the council on Facebook and Twitter," the official MENA news agency said.

The head of the military judicial authority, Major General Mahmud Morsi, said there will be "no tolerance to insults directed at the armed forces."

After her release, Mahfouz told Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm that the allegations against her were baseless.

Mahfouz was one of the leaders of Egypt Revolution Youth Movement that revolted against the long-time autocracy of former ruler Hosni Mubarak who was overthrown in an 18-day uprising on February 11.

She appeared in an Internet video in January, calling on Egyptians to protest against Mubarak's regime on January 25.

Thousands of civilians have been tried in military courts since Mubarak's ouster.

The End
Source: Reuters News Agency

The 26-year-old Asmaa Mahfouz was detained and interrogated for three hours on Sunday and released later in the day on a bail of $3,356, Reuters reported. Protesters gathered outside the prosecutor's office in Cairo following Mahfouz's release, chanting "down, down with the rule of the military". She is being questioned for "speaking inappropriately about the military council and for using defamatory and offensive insults against the council on Facebook and Twitter," the official MENA news agency said. The head of the military judicial authority, Major General Mahmud Morsi, said there will be "no tolerance to insults directed at the armed forces." After her release, Mahfouz told Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm that the allegations against her were baseless. Mahfouz was one of the leaders of Egypt Revolution Youth Movement that revolted against the long-time autocracy of former ruler Hosni Mubarak who was overthrown in an 18-day uprising on February 11. She appeared in an Internet video in January, calling on Egyptians to protest against Mubarak's regime on January 25. Thousands of civilians have been tried in military courts since Mubarak's ouster. The End Source: Reuters News Agency
Your Comment
Name:
Email:
* Comment: