Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (Cairo)
29 October 2008
press release
On 28 October 2008, the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) announced that the Egyptian security forces have arrested two more bloggers. The arrests of Abd Altawab Mahmoud, who runs the blog "Alhayat Alsa'ida" ( http://ragabhpl.blogspot.com ), and Khalifa Ebaid, who runs the blog "Ana Mathoon" in Fayoum city, have increased the numbers of bloggers currently in custody to three. Another blogger has been expelled from his university campus.
Though investigations of bloggers have never been equitable, it was expected that these bloggers would be arrested because of their affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood group. But the bloggers were unexpectedly charged with "taking advantage of the prevailing atmosphere of democracy to overthrow the regime." ANHRI believes that this is yet another accusation to add to the lengthy list used by the Egyptian government against their opponents. This new accusation is the most ridiculous of all, since no government official would reasonably dare to claim that there is any atmosphere of democracy to be enjoyed by these young bloggers or anyone else, concludes ANHRI.
The Legal Aid Unit for Freedom of Expression at ANHRI issued the following statement: "Some bloggers have been detained for their involvement in the relief caravans to the Gaza Strip, and others for their solidarity with people who had already been arrested. Both these excuses are unlawful, but, despite this, the bloggers were arrested and detained and their human rights were violated while in detention at the Snoures police station in Fayoum. ANHRI believes that if there has been any crime committed in this case, it is by the officer who issued the arrest warrant and carried out the abuse."
The current campaign has so far resulted in the arrests of:
1. Mohamed Khairy, from Fayoum, who runs the blog "Garshakal"
( http://garshkal.blogspot.com )
2. Abd Altawab Mahmoud, who runs the blog "Alhayat Alsa'ida"
( http://ragabhpl.blogspot.com )
3. Khalifa Ebaid, who runs the blog "Ana Mathoon"
The police are also pursuing the following bloggers:
1. Mohamed Adil, from Gharbia city, who runs the blog "Meit"
( http://43arb.info/meit )
2. Bilal Ala'a, from Gharbia city, who runs the blog "al- Balad Baladna"
( http://khabta.blogspot.com )
3. Husam Yahya, from Dakahlia city, who runs the blog "Sout Alhuria"
( http://sotelhoria.blogspot.com )
In addition, Ahmed Abd Algawy, who runs the blog "Akeed fi Masr"
( http://akeedinegypt.blogspot.com ), has been expelled from his university campus.
Updates the Abd Algawy (Abdel Kawi) case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/97956
For further information on the Khairy (Khairi), Ala?a (Alaa), Adil and Yahya (Yahia) cases, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/97903
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