I was just on the phone with Ghazl el-Mahalla labor leader Mohamed el-Attar, who told me that security presence was stepped up hysterically around the company compound. He also said he was banned from entering the compound at 7:30am today. “Officer Khaled el-Messiry told me, ‘you specially are not allowed in,’” Attar said. “He said I’ll only be allowed into the factory at the time of my work shift, which starts tonight at 11pm till 7am.”

Attar added that a similar ban is expected to be enforced against other labor activists known to the security services. “They don’t want us to get into the company and speak with other colleagues,” he said. “They are scared we may organize a protest action.”