ASHRI: 493 PROTESTERS ARRESTED AMID REPRESSIVE MEASURES
Cairo, 9 Ramadan 1434/17 July 2013 (MINA) – Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) leading member Ashri said that there are at least 493 pro Morsi demonstrant who were arrested in military attack at 6th October bridge, Ramses, Cairo, last days.
“493 peaceful protesters were arrested from the streets around Ramses Square (Cairo),” said Ashri, according to FJP’s official website on Wednesday (17/7) monitored by Mi’raj News Agency (MINA).
He added that the arrested peacefull protesters taken to six different police stations, with investigations taking place in their prison cells, rather than at the prosecutor’s office, contrary to due process requirements.
He condemns Egyptian and international rights groups silence over the flagrant human rights crimes committed daily by the military forces against unarmed, peaceful protesters.
In a statement to Ikhwanweb, Mukhtar Ashri, Chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP)’s Legal Committee, affirmed that violations of human rights and repressive measures persist in Egypt in a very systematic and dangerous manner amid totally bizarre silence from Egyptian, Arab and international rights organizations.
“Arbitrarily detained protesters are not given any food or drink, nor medication for those who need it, which is a serious setback for human rights in Egypt.”
Student and FJP Leaders Reject Coup Government, Vow to Continue Protests Untill Democracy Restored
The Muslim Brotherhood’s political arm, the FJP, and students gathered in the huge pro-democracy, pro-legitimacy sit-in in East Cairo’s Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square refuse to recognize the illegitimate putschist cabinet. In a press conference Wednesday in Rabaa Al-Adaweya Square, Dr. Essam El-Erian, deputy head of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), affirmed that the mass demonstrations outside the Cabinet building express rejection of everything produced by the military coup.
“These protest rallies are huge. They will continue to reject the coup government. The demonstration reached the U.S. Embassy, to protest the anti-democracy American stance.” On the sidelines of the press conference, Egyptian university student unions launched the movement ‘Students Against Coup’ (SAC) in the presence of Mohamed Magdy, Secretary of the Egyptian Student Union (ESU) Executive Office.
Mohamed Magdy denounced what he called the Egyptian Interior Ministry bullying of peaceful demonstrators, while it could not stop hired thug crimes, car theft, muggings or burglaries, nor the smuggling of fuel and other subsidized goods to black markets, and could not even manage traffic control. “Student anger and revolt will be victorious, not only for reinstatement of President Mohamed Morsi, but also the Constitution and freedoms of citizens.
“We, members of the student movement, will not allow the confiscation of our liberties. We will not allow universities to go back to pre-revolutionary times where State Security officers appointed heads of Student Unions.” Mohamed Magdy, on behalf of the ESU Executive Office, announced rejection of the so-called transitional government headed by Dr. Hazem El-Beblawi, and the ESU’s refusal of Dr. Hossam Issa as Minister of Higher Education, asking how can he, a law professor, be involved in a coup against the country’s Constitution?
Meanwhile, Aya Samir, coordinator of the movement ‘Female Students Against The Junta’ condemned the massacre by the police and army in front of the Republican Guard HQ and Ramses Square street battles, both of which targeted peaceful demonstrators. “The movement is against the military coup commanders, not the Egyptian army. The Egyptian army has the best soldiers on earth. It should not be involved in supporting an illegitimate coup.
“I call on Al-Azhar grand sheikh, the Coptic Pope and the political parties that failed in all previous electoral tests, and which are now involved in the coup, to retreat.” The founding statement of SAC welcomed all students of all political colors in all the movement’s peaceful activities. It also called for the release of all detainees, specially students.
While bovine Ahmed, Vice-President of the Federation of Egyptian students, said: “continue in the activities of the rejection of the military coup. “The putschists overturned democratic choices. Student unions must continue to demonstrate and protest in a peaceful manner, all the while escalating peaceful action indefinitely. (T/P03/E1)
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
