Prosecution orders 4-day detention of 25 arrested during Friday protests

Sunday 17-04-2016 10:36 PM

Protest at the Lawyers Syndicate on Apr. 14, 2016 against the transfer of the Red Sea islands Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia. ASWATMASRIYA/Asmaa Gamal

CAIRO, Apr 17 (Aswat Masriya) - Egyptian prosecution ordered the detention of 25 people for four days pending investigation for protesting on Friday against the maritime border demarcation agreement recently signed between Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

The protesters are facing accusations of protesting illegally and disrupting public peace and security.

The 25 protesters were arrested last Friday. Their release was ordered on Saturday, pending the receipt of the Homeland Security's investigation, which accuses them of having "committed the charges attributed to them."

On Friday, thousands of protesters gathered in front of the press syndicate on Friday, under the slogan "Friday of the land", to protest against the agreement, which stipulates that two disputed islands, Tiran and Sanafir, are part of Saudi territorial waters.

The islands are located at the mouth of the Gulf of al-Aqaba and  are strategically significant as they both control maritime activity in the gulf. 

The agreement, which has yet to be ratified by the parliament, has provoked public ire in Egypt and come under heavy scrutiny by many Egyptians who argue that the two islands are Egyptian and accuse the president of "selling Egypt".

Protesters ended their demonstration Friday evening and said they will resume protesting on Apr. 25, which coincides with Sinai Liberation Day. 

Friday protests have brought many activists and people back to the streets after months of hiatus and lack of participation in political activity.  

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