Egyptian prosecution orders detention of nine for protesting on 6th anniversary of Jan 25

Saturday 28-01-2017 11:08 AM

Tahrir Square on sixth anniversary of Jan 25 Uprising. Aswat Masriya/ Marwa Saber

CAIRO, Jan 28 (Aswat Masriya) - Egyptian prosecution ordered on Friday the detention of nine protesters four days pending investigation against the backdrop of protesting on the sixth anniversary of Jan 25 Uprising. 

Out of the nine defendants, five were arrested n Alexandria and the rest were arrested in Cairo.

The defendants are accused of illegal protesting, blocking roads, provoking sedition and belonging to a “terrorist group”, referring to the revolutionary socialists. 

Days prior to the anniversary, Interior  Minister Magdy Abdelghaffar vowed to contain any attempts to disturb security.

Under the controversial protest law, many Egyptians, mostly youth, have been detained and convicted of violating the law and protesting without obtaining prior approval from the interior ministry.

Since its issuance in November 2013, the law has been widely criticized by domestic and international human rights organizations which say it violates international standards that allow for peaceful protests.

 

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