Egypt: Night Curfew In Cairo Extended As Over 300 Detained
The Egyptian military on Sunday imposed a new night curfew – for the third consecutive day – around the Ministry of Defence in Cairo, reported the official MENA news agency. This curfew is imposed from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time (9:00 p.m. to 4:00 GMT).
Sunday was quiet Abbassiya, the area where the Ministry of Defense is located, following weekend clashes between demonstrators and soldiers.
In recent days, the military has carried out numerous arrests, detaining at first the protesters on the ground, then stalking in mosques and even in surrounding hospitals.
A group of lawyers has published a list of over 310 names of detainees, drawn from documents issued by the military prosecutor. Among them are many activists and a dozen of journalists. Remanded in custody for 15 days, all are being questioned by the military justice officials. They were prosecuted for violence against soldiers, unlawful gathering in a military zone and damage to public property.
“It can go from one to seven years in prison. Those accused of killing a soldier may get the maximum penalty, “said Heba Morayef, head of Human Rights Watch in Egypt. At least 15 women present among the protesters were released by the army after a detention of more than 24 hours.
