FILE: Egyptian prosecutor orders arrest of two leading activists

Record ID: 859275

  • Title: FILE: Egyptian prosecutor orders arrest of two leading activists
  • Date: 27th November 2013
  • Summary: CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE - MAY 11, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CROWD OF DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING AGAINST MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD GROUP (Arabic) SAYING: "DOWN, DOWN WITH THE GUIDE'S RULE, DOWN DOWN WITH ALL OF THE GUIDE'S DOGS!" HEAD OF THE APRIL 6 YOUTH MOVEMENT, AHMED MAHER, SURROUNDED BY JOURNALISTS/WALKING TOWARDS CAR/GETTING INTO CAR MAHER GIVING INTERVIEW SITTING INSIDE CAR CAIRO, EGYPT (FILE - JANUARY 18, 2012) (REUTERS) MAHER GIVING SPEECH IN APRIL 6TH GROUP OFFICES CAIRO, EGYPT (MARCH 26, 2013) (REUTERS) DEMONSTRATORS OUTSIDE THE COURT OF CASSATION CHANTING ACTIVIST, ALAA ABDEL FATTAH, SURROUNDED BY SUPPORTERS DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING: "DOWN, DOWN WITH MURSI'S RULE!" FATTAH HOLDING HIS SON AT COURT ENTRANCE AND TALKING CROWDS CHANTING (Arabic): 'DOWN DOWN WITH THE GUIDE'S RULE!' FATTAH ENTERING THE COURT, BAG BEING PASSED TO THE FRONT
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Egypt
  • City:
  • Country: Egypt
  • Topics: General,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAQ70GRYJZ810F3VNLMR1EBZZI
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: An Egyptian prosecutor has ordered the arrest of two prominent activists for inciting protests, a source in the prosecutor's office said on Wednesday (November 27), including one whose group helped lead the popular uprising that ousted Hosni Mubarak in 2011.
    The arrests of Ahmed Maher, head of the April 6 youth movement, and Alaa Abdel Fattah - both symbols of the revolt - were ordered after they took part in demonstrations outside parliament on Tuesday (November 26) defying a new law restricting protests.
    Twenty-four other activists were detained on Tuesday for four days pending investigation of allegations of thuggery, attacking public employees, stealing wireless devices and protesting without permission from the Interior Ministry, said the source.
    Four female activists who were detained were released along a desert highway, said a security source.
    The new law, passed by the army-backed government on Sunday (November 24), has angered some Egyptians and drawn fire from human rights groups who describe it as a major blow to freedom in the most populous Arab country.
    Egypt has experienced some of its worst civilian violence in decades after the army, prompted by mass protests, ousted the country's first democratically elected leader, Islamist Mohamed Mursi, in July. It has since introduced a political roadmap meant to lead to new elections next year.
    Liberals and activists, who backed Mursi's overthrow, are now becoming more vocal against the military, which has backed a security crackdown against Islamists.
    Hundreds have been killed and more than 2,000 arrested, including Mursi and the leadership of his Muslim Brotherhood group, which won every election since Mubarak's downfall.
    Pro-democracy activists have called for new demonstrations in central Cairo on Wednesday to focus attention on the law. The government has said it is not opposed to peaceful protests.
    The law will further squeeze the Brotherhood, which hoped mass protests would reverse what it calls a 'military coup'.
    The restrictions have triggered a public debate in Egypt, where demonstrations brought down Mubarak and encouraged army chief General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to remove Mursi.
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