Egypt Sends 21 Women To Jail For 11 Years Over Protests

A group of
twenty-one
women have been jailed for 11 years for a peaceful protest in
Alexandria, as Egypt’s interim prime minister gave a strong
defence of a law further restricting public demonstrations.
The women, supporters of the deposed president Mohamed
Morsi, received 11-year jail sentences on Wednesday for forming
a human chain and passing out flyers earlier this month. Seven
minors among the group were remanded to juvenile detention
until they reach legal age. The youngest in the group is 15 years
old.
Six men, described by prosecutors as Muslim Brotherhood
leaders, were sentenced to 15-year terms, accused of being
members of a “terrorist organisation”.
In a news conference also on Wednesday, Hazem el-Beblawi, the
interim prime minister, defended a new law which requires
citizens to apply for permission before marching as a “necessary
step”.
“The cabinet confirms that it will apply the law fully to show its
support for the police in the face of terrorism. The law is subject
to change, but through the proper channels.”
Protesters opposed to both Morsi and the interim army-backed
government meanwhile gathered in downtown Cairo for a rally
against the law.
Unexpectedly, the interior ministry announced that it had
approved the march, even though organisers denied applying for
a permit.
The ministry said the application was submitted by the father of
Salah Ahmed Mohamed, known as “Jika”, the first protester killed
during deposed Morsi’s tenure.
Wednesday’s rally was only announced in the morning, giving far
less than the required period of notice.
The backlash against the law is the latest criticism of Beblawi’s
increasingly unpopular government. Even some supporters think
it went too far in restricting personal freedoms: Leaders of
Tamarod, the petition campaign that organised the protests that
preceded Morsi’s ouster, have criticised the law as too harsh,
and several were arrested while protesting against it on Tuesday
in the southern city of Aswan.
“They had one party against them already, the Muslim
Brotherhood,” said Magdi Hussein, a campaigner from Tamarod
who attended Tuesday’s protest. “I don’t know why they passed
this law. It will turn another group against them.” [AlJazeera]