Complaints against activists referred to prosecution in State Security case

Prosecutor General Hisham Barakat referred complaints against several prominent activists regarding plotting and inciting the storming of former State Security headquarters in 2011, to the Cairo Appeals Prosecution Sunday, state-run portal Al-Ahram reported.

Activists include former Member of Parliament Mostafa al-Naggar, founders of the April 6 Youth Movement Ahmed Maher, Asmaa Mahfouz and Mohamed Adel, as well as Abdel Rahman Yusuf al-Qaradawi and Abdel Rahman Ezz.

The charges followed Abdel Rehim Ali’s broadcasting of phone conversations between activists during his talk show on private satellite channel Al-Qahera Wal Nas.

In one of the conversations, Naggar spoke to Qaradawi about seeing his file at State Security headquarters after protesters stormed the premises.

In May 2011, protesters broke into the state security headquarters in Nasr City. Following hours of protests in front of the building, the Armed Forces opened the main gate and allowed more protesters in.

Two months earlier, the apparatus was dissolved, only to be replaced by a similar body, dubbed “National Security.”

Naggar issued a statement last week in response to the leaks, condemning them as a “character assassination campaign,” and targeted “political revenge” for being one of thousands present when State Security was stormed. He added that he was never involved in attacking, breaking into, or vandalizing any public institution, due to his belief in “peaceful change.”

Last month, Maher and Adel were found guilty of crimes under the recently passed Protest Law and sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of LE50,000.

AD

You have a right to access accurate information, be stimulated by innovative and nuanced reporting, and be moved by compelling storytelling.

Subscribe now to become part of the growing community of members who help us maintain our editorial independence.
Know more

Join us

Your support is the only way to ensure independent,
progressive journalism
survives.