Amnesty International demands release of Egypt activists

Rasa - Amnesty International has called on Egyptian authorities to release a number of activists arrested three months ago for defying a controversial anti-demonstration law.

News ID: 1131

Date: 13 September 2014 - 18:56

RNA (Egypt) - In a statement released on Friday, Philip Luther, the director of Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Programme, said the 23 people detained in the capital city of Cairo on June 21 should be freed.

The development comes as the trial of the activists, who are charged with violating the law restricting protests, will resume later on Saturday.

Human rights activist Sanaa Seif and women’s rights defender Yara Sallam are among the defendants.

Luther said the case proves the Egyptian authorities’ resolve to suppress peaceful protests.

“This appears to be yet another show-trial based on scant and dubious evidence that is intended to be a clear warning to anyone who defies Egypt’s protest law,” he added.

Egypt has been the scene of anti-government protests with continuous clashes between security forces and supporters of Morsi since his ouster in July 2013.

In November last year, the military-backed authorities passed a law banning all but police-sanctioned protests. Since then, hundreds of anti-government protesters have been jailed for staging demonstrations.

Following Morsi’s ouster, a number of Muslim Brotherhood members and supporters have also been sentenced to death.

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