A human rights group said today, Monday, that the Egyptian authorities have arrested at least 382 people since September 20, amid reports of limited and sporadic demonstrations against President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.
The arrest incidents came after tightening security measures on the first anniversary of rare demonstrations that took place in Cairo and other cities in response to an invitation made in September of last year, the former contractor and actor Muhammad Ali, who is currently living outside the country.
Ali, who has posted videos criticizing the authorities online, has called for more protests this month.
Videos have spread on social media since September 20, of several very limited demonstrations, in which dozens of people participated in different parts of the country.
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms said it had directly documented 249 cases of arrest during the past nine days, adding that lawyers and human rights groups had documented 133 other cases.
Yesterday, Sunday, the Public Prosecutor's Office said that it had ordered the release of 68 "children" detained for allegedly participating in "the recent riots."
Activists say that the protests are partly due to frustration with the economic situation that the Coronavirus pandemic has caused, and to a major government campaign to impose fines or demolish unlicensed housing.