The Arabist

The Arabist

By Issandr El Amrani and friends.

Three activists released; another three get 15 more days of detention

The State Security prosecutor has ordered the release of three pro-democracy detainees, and renewed the detention of three others.

Activists Asmaa Ali, Ahmad Abdel Gawad and Ahmad Abdel Ghaffar, are to be released, ruled the prosecutor in Heliopolis this afternoon. Meanwhile Alaa Seif al-Islam, Nada al-Qassas, and Rasha 3azab, were given another 15 more days in prison.

The six pro-democracy detainees initially refused to leave the prisoners’ trucks, charging the State Security prosecutor of complicity with State Security police, and requested to be investigated by a magistrate. The detainees later reversed their position, up on the request of their lawyers, who attended the interrogations with them.

In another development, Mohamed el-Sharqawi's lawyers and seven rights organizations have issued a new statement, with more details on the Youth for Change activist's recent interrogation, the release of the two detainees, and the crackdown on the hunger-strikers in Mazra3et Tora prison. Sharqawi, himself, also sent another letter from Tora, explaining what happened on Saturday at the prosecutor's office.