March to support detained activist; mother on hunger strikeIt is a shame to see the new Egyptian Government squandering its own moral credibility like this.
By Mai Shams El-Din /Daily News Egypt November 8, 2011, 4:39 pm
CAIRO: Hundreds marched Monday from downtown Cairo to support activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, detained for 15 days pending investigation by the military prosecution.
His supporters plan another solidarity March Wednesday that will end in front of Tora prison, where he is currently detained.
Abdel Fattah faces charges of inciting violence during the Maspero clashes between army forces and Coptic protesters.
On Oct. 30 he refused to be interrogated by the military prosecution because he is a civilian and since he believes that the military establishment is party to the crime
they’re probing and hence should not be investigating the Maspero incidents in the first place.
Abdel Fattah's mother, university professor Laila Soueif, also a prominent activist and member of March 9 Movement for Universities' Independence, has started an open-ended hunger strike until her son is released to draw attention to her his case and that of 12,000 civilians who have been tried in military courts since a popular revolt toppled the Mubarak regime in February.
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Background here and links.