Egyptian movement calls for release of opposition figures

Record ID: 1353921

  • Title: Egyptian movement calls for release of opposition figures
  • Date: 27th August 2018
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (AUGUST 27, 2018) (REUTERS) NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS, ON RECENT ARREST OF POLITICAL FIGURES SIGN ON BANNER READING (Arabic): "CIVIL DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COORDINATOR OF CIVIL DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT, YEHIA HUSSEIN ABDEL HADY, SAYING: "The release of all detainees in prisons, those who carried out peaceful political opposition who have not been convicted in any cases of violence or terrorism. Third, the loosening of the grip on the media, in all of its types whether visual, audio or written (media) and the end of the violations on journalists, and (we call) for the initiation of the freedom of opinion." VARIOUS OF FORMER EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, HAMDEEN SABAHY, SITTING AT NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FORMER EGYPTIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, HAMDEEN SABAHY, SAYING: "These accusations are a disgrace to those who fabricated them. These accusations are a disgrace to those who are promoting them. As for us, we are confident about the honour, integrity, dignity and innocence of Ambassador Ma'asoum Marzouq, Doctor Raed Salama and Doctor Yehia al-Qazaz and those who are with them, and those prisoners of conscience who have preceded them and those who will follow them."
  • Embargoed: 10th September 2018 17:35
  • Keywords: Egyptian civil liberties civil liberties in Egypt Egyptian opposition parties Egyptian opposition figures recent crackdown
  • Location: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • City: CAIRO, EGYPT
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0018UYR87B
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: A coalition of secular and leftist Egyptian groups on Monday (August 27) slammed the arrests of opposition figures and called for the release of all such prisoners not convicted of violent offences.
    Masoum Marzouk, a former ambassador, and six other activists were arrested on Thursday (August 23) and detained for 15 days pending investigation on charges of joining a terrorist group and receiving funds for terrorism. He had recently called for a referendum on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's rule, in rare public criticism of the former general.
    The Civil Democratic Movement (CDM) said in a statement read out by its spokesman, Yehia Hussain, at a news conference that the group "rejects such police tactics in dealing with political opponents".
    "The recent campaign of arrests ... is part of a systematic policy followed by the regime to silence any voice that opposes its oppressive policies that are hostile to freedoms," the statement said.
    Egyptian authorities have jailed thousands of opponents in recent years, most of them suspected Islamists, but some secular activists and journalists.
    The government has said its actions are directed at terrorists and saboteurs trying to undermine the state.
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