OPEN
SEASON
lutionary secular activists like
Alaa Abd El Fattah and Ahmed
Maher, as well journalists like the
Al Jazeera crew of Peter Greste,
Mohamed Fahmy and Baher Mohamed, have recently captured
headlines for such imprisonments.
Abd El Fattah and Maher —
both heavily instrumental in the
2011 revolution — have been in
prison for more than two months
after breaking the protest law
instituted in late November that
requires police approval of protests. The three Al Jazeera journalists have not been charged,
though the prosecutor general
accuses them of terrorism.
Under the terms of the new
military-backed constitution that
Egyptians approved in mid-January, detainees must be interrogated
within 24 hours of their arrest,
and a lawyer must be present. If a
week passes without gaining the
right to appeal their detention, detainees are supposed to be freed.
Actual conditions in Egypt stand
in stark contrast to such principles, as the constitutional referendum itself underscored: Many
of those who urged Egyptians to
vote “no” — challenging the government’s aggressive campaign for
HUFFINGTON
01.26.14
“yes” votes — were rounded up
and detained, have not been formally charged and are routinely
denied access to lawyers.
Ammar fears joining that group,
yet he cannot bring himself to stay
underground.
After his brothers were taken to
jail, his mother pleaded with him
Today, much like before,
anyone who dares
challenge the government
invites swift arrest —
suspected Brotherhood
members, secular activists,
and even journalists.
to cease his own protesting. He
made no promises, he says. He is
half ashamed and half intent.
“The people in prison will
never see daylight again,” he
says, “unless we make
noise for them.”
Sophia Jones is a Cairo-based
Middle East correspondent for
The Huffington Post.
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