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Egyptian Police Confiscate Newsletter, Arrest Sign Holders and Close Grocery Stores Egyptian Police Confiscate Newsletter, Arrest Sign Holders and Close Grocery Stores
(about 5 hours later)
CAIRO — The Egyptian police over the weekend confiscated a human rights group’s newsletter, arrested two activists for a paper sign criticizing the police and shut down two Cairo grocery store chains that the police said had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.CAIRO — The Egyptian police over the weekend confiscated a human rights group’s newsletter, arrested two activists for a paper sign criticizing the police and shut down two Cairo grocery store chains that the police said had ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
Less than a week after the inauguration of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the grab bag of notable police actions over two days was the first indication that his administration intends to continue the broad crackdown on dissent that began after the military takeover he led last summer.Less than a week after the inauguration of President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, the grab bag of notable police actions over two days was the first indication that his administration intends to continue the broad crackdown on dissent that began after the military takeover he led last summer.
The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said in a statement on Sunday that the police had confiscated all 1,000 copies of its newsletter, Wasla, at its printer the previous night. The statement said that a police officer had accused the organization of inciting “the downfall of the regime.” The officer also charged that the newsletter was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that backed the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, and was outlawed after the military takeover. But the Arabic Network is a well-established liberal organization often critical of the Islamists.The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information said in a statement on Sunday that the police had confiscated all 1,000 copies of its newsletter, Wasla, at its printer the previous night. The statement said that a police officer had accused the organization of inciting “the downfall of the regime.” The officer also charged that the newsletter was affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamist group that backed the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi, and was outlawed after the military takeover. But the Arabic Network is a well-established liberal organization often critical of the Islamists.
The newsletter, published occasionally since 2010, compiles commentary from blogs and social media, mainly for older Egyptians who are unaccustomed to using the Internet, the organization said in a statement.The newsletter, published occasionally since 2010, compiles commentary from blogs and social media, mainly for older Egyptians who are unaccustomed to using the Internet, the organization said in a statement.
“The new regime’s intentions have been demonstrated,” Gamal Eid, the executive director of the organization, said in the statement, calling the raid “an indication of the fate of freedom of the press along with freedom of expression.”“The new regime’s intentions have been demonstrated,” Gamal Eid, the executive director of the organization, said in the statement, calling the raid “an indication of the fate of freedom of the press along with freedom of expression.”
Riot police officers were seen Sunday forcibly closing many locations of the two grocery store chains, Zad and Seoudi, which Egyptian state media said were also accused of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.Riot police officers were seen Sunday forcibly closing many locations of the two grocery store chains, Zad and Seoudi, which Egyptian state media said were also accused of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood.
The Zad chain was reportedly founded only a few years ago by Khairat el-Shater, a business mogul and senior Brotherhood leader who is now in jail on various political charges. Seoudi, a high-end market, is owned by a businessman who was arrested, under former President Hosni Mubarak, but later acquitted of charges of belonging to the Brotherhood.The Zad chain was reportedly founded only a few years ago by Khairat el-Shater, a business mogul and senior Brotherhood leader who is now in jail on various political charges. Seoudi, a high-end market, is owned by a businessman who was arrested, under former President Hosni Mubarak, but later acquitted of charges of belonging to the Brotherhood.
The arrests of the two activists occurred at about 6 p.m. at a small state-authorized demonstration against sexual harassment that was held in one of Cairo’s wealthiest enclaves. With a few dozen demonstrators far outnumbered by truckloads of riot police officers, the two young activists tried to scrawl a sign that said, “The Police Are Harassers.” The arrests of the two activists occurred at about 6 p.m. on Saturday at a small state-authorized demonstration against sexual harassment that was held in one of Cairo’s wealthiest enclaves. With a few dozen demonstrators far outnumbered by truckloads of riot police officers, the two young activists tried to scrawl a sign that said, “The Police Are Harassers.”
Egyptian women often complain of harassment by the police or members of the security forces, and they complain even more often that the police fail to enforce existing legal protections against such abuse.Egyptian women often complain of harassment by the police or members of the security forces, and they complain even more often that the police fail to enforce existing legal protections against such abuse.
But when the two activists were writing the sign, the police swooped in even before they could raise it, said one of the activists, Nader Osama, 20, a student. “We did not even hold it up or anything,” he said.But when the two activists were writing the sign, the police swooped in even before they could raise it, said one of the activists, Nader Osama, 20, a student. “We did not even hold it up or anything,” he said.
“They told us that the charge will be offending the Interior Ministry,” he said, but “then they released us at 2 a.m. and told us: ‘You can go. That is it.’ ” “They told us that the charge will be offending the Interior Ministry,” he said, but “then they released us at 2 a.m. and told us: ‘You can go. That is it.' ”