Court extends detention of protestors

The detention of those arrested when opposition political groups called for a general strike throughout Egypt in protest at rising food prices and corruption has been extended for another 15 days. At the same time, the New Cairo Court ordered that one detainee, Mohamed El-Sharqawy, be released.

The Qasr El-Nil court ordered the extension of the detention of 21 individuals during a court appearance which lawyers say was marred by irregularities. A lawyer from the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights told Daily News Egypt that police officers were present in the room with the suspects while the judge was examining their cases, which is a violation of the law. In addition police officers refused to remove the defendants’ handcuffs during the court appearance, again in violation of the law. The group form part of over 60 individuals arrested in Cairo when opposition political groups called for the strike.