Australians for Democracy and Human Rights in Egypt (ADHRE) PRESS RELEASE 02nd December 2013 In a police state, you can be jailed for scratching a glass door The 21 girls sentenced to prison after protesting against the military overthrow of President Mohamed Morsi are “prisoners of conscience” whose detention reflects “Egyptian authorities’ determination to punish dissent,” according to Amnesty International. Amongst other ridiculous charges, the girls were found guilty of sabotage because they allegedly scratched a glass door. “Instead of imprisoning peaceful protesters, authorities should be ensuring prompt… investigations into police abuse of protesters …and upholding the right to freedom of peaceful assembly,” continued the international human rights body. And a group of 14 Egyptian human rights organisations accused the ruling regime of seeking to re-establish the “police state” which oppressed Egyptians before the 25 January Revolution. “This verdict is but the latest example of Egypt’s rapid deterioration into fascist dictatorship” says Australians for Democracy and Human Rights (ADHRE) spokesperson Mr. Adel Salman. “Sadly it won’t be the last if the draconian Protest Law is allowed to stand, and we call upon the Australian government to join the chorus of international condemnation”, continues Salman. The new law makes peaceful protest illegal and gives the police the right to use live ammunition against protestors. It is not just supporters of President Morsi that are being persecuted. Those that have fallen foul of the military regime for daring to criticise it include the founder of ‘Christians against the Coup’, Rami Jan, political activists and strong critics of the Muslim Brotherhood, Alaa Abdel Fattah and Ahmed Maher (founder of the ‘April 6’ movement), prominent Coptic lawyer and human rights activist Neven Melek, and popular Egyptian TV satirist, Bassem Youssef. Mr. Salman commented wryly “At least the generals aren’t discriminating when it comes to repression”. For further details, please contact: Adel Salman mobile 0421 059 095 email [email protected]
Posted on: Mon, 02 Dec 2013 02:02:24 +0000
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