Wednesday, August 17, 2011

3 activists summoned by the SCAF

It's been a few days since I've updated my blog, and I do have quite a few postings ready! (including some deliciously bad for you Ramadan treats). For now, I wanted to re-post this story from Bikya Masr. The article discusses the case of three activists who are being summoned into a hearing by the ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces. Let me make one thing perfectly clear: I do not agree with a military trial for any civilian personnel.

The article states that the SCAF alleges one of the activists being summoned, a young woman, “went over the limits of criticism to slander and incitement” and alleged that she called for the assassination of a SCAF member in comments she published on her personal Twitter and Facebook accounts."

Again, I do not support military trials of civilians, but I do support people being made face the consequences of their actions. If in the US for example you were to post on your Twitter or Facebook pages that you wished any high ranking political officer were to be assassinated, particularly in light of the political atmosphere in Egypt as of late, what do you think would happen? Would you be left alone? Of course not.

I'd love to hear your comments on this article, posted below for you to read. Personally I have issues with many of the articles published in Bikya Masr, either due to ridiculous English editing, outrageous claims, or just downright slanderous writing, however this article bears mentioning as military trials should be restricted to military personnel only!


CAIRO: Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) has summoned three more human rights activists for investigation on Tuesday. Bassem Samir, Hossam Ali and Ahmed Ghoneim, who work for the Egyptian Democratic Academy, will be investigated on Thursday.
The reason behind the summoning is not yet clear, however the SCAF has already summoned two other rights activists this week for investigation, in an apparent crackdown.
The SCAF is now Egypt’s ruling authority during the transitional period that began with the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak on February 11 after 18 days of protests in the country.
Asmaa Mahfouz, who was released on a 20,000 Egyptian pound bail and accused of “incitement against the SCAF” is now to face a military trial, according to the state-run MENA news agency.
Military court rulings are final and cannot be appealed.
Many activists have expressed their anger and condemnation at trying civilians in front of military courts. Tens of Mahfouz’s supporters protested outside the military prosecutor’s office holding signs that read “no for military trials” and chanted anti-SCAF slogans.
The SCAF said the young woman “went over the limits of criticism to slander and incitement” and alleged that she called for the assassination of a SCAF member in comments she published on her personal Twitter and Facebook accounts.
Mahfouz and her lawyer strongly denied the accusations and said that the criticism was directed at the SCAF as a “presidential ruling authority and not for its role as a military.”
The second activist summoned this week was Maha Abou Bakr, a leading member of the Kefaya (Enough) movement. She was released shortly after due to a “mistaken identity.”
SCAF thought Abou Bakr was someone else from a video from the Abassya march that saw one person die and dozens injured when pro-change demonstrations marched on the military’s headquarters and were attacked by local residents in July.
Abou Bakr was released, but the move drew criticism and sarcasm from many activists who called for protests denouncing the SCAF decision to go after activists.
BM


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