EGYPT/FILE: Egyptian court bans the April 6 pro-democracy movement that helped ignite the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011

Record ID: 565382

  • Title: EGYPT/FILE: Egyptian court bans the April 6 pro-democracy movement that helped ignite the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011
  • Date: 28th April 2014
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE - NOVEMBER 30, 2013) (REUTERS) SUPPORTERS OF APRIL 6TH FOUNDER, AHMED MAHER, MARCHING IN CAIRO AS HE WALKS TO COURT TO ANSWER SUMMONS MAHER WALKING WITH CROWD, LEADING CHANT, SAYING: 'Stand with us until we go to prison. Military rule is shameful and treasonous." CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE - DECEMBER 9, 2013) (REUTERS) WIDE OF MAHER AND LIBERAL ACTIVIST AHMED DOUMA IN CAGE IN COURT MAHER IN CAGE
  • Embargoed: 13th May 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA9AC54MRNKGU392QYYROCBYU66
  • Story Text: An Egyptian court on Monday (April 28) banned a pro-democracy movement that helped ignite the uprising that toppled autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, judicial sources and the website of the state-run Al-Ahram newspaper said.
    The court was ruling on a private lawsuit brought by a lawyer accusing the April 6 movement of "damaging the image of the state" and illegal contact with foreigners.
    April 6 was one of the youth movements that harnessed social media to bring people into the streets for the historic Jan. 25, 2011 protests that led to Mubarak's downfall at the height of the "Arab Spring" uprisings.
    Three leading members of April 6 - Ahmed Maher, Mohamed Adel and Ahmed Douma - were sentenced to three years in prison in December on charges including protesting illegally.
    Their appeals were rejected in April.
    Lawyer Ashraf Farahat, who filed the case with Cairo's Court for Urgent matters, said that he was pleased with the ruling.
    "This ruling is absolutely correct and it was expected when the case was first raised. When we filed this case this was what we wanted in terms of a ruling, because all of the events that are happening in Egypt, the gatherings and the demonstrations and what this group is calling for is against the law and it is increasing the divisions amongst the people," he said.
    The Court that issued Monday's ruling was the same body that last year banned the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist movement that propelled Mohamed Mursi to the presidency in a 2012 election.
    Lawyer Ashraf Farahat cited tape recordings of conversations by members of the 6th of April movement that have been broadcast in the media and which allegedly detail conversations by members of the group and other liberal activists.
    "The contents of these recordings, regardless of whether or not they were legitimately recorded, whether or not it was legal -- the content of these tapes are extremely dangerous for the Egyptian people. And thank God that the Egyptian judiciary is independent and is neutral," he said.
    The army-backed authorities have cracked down hard on the Islamists and secular-minded opponents since the military deposed Mursi last July after mass protests against his rule.
    An Egyptian court intensified that crackdown on Monday by handing down a death sentence on the leader of the Muslim Brotherhood and 682 supporters.
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