Egypt: six activists released after international criticism
Egyptian political activist Israa Abdel Fattah at his office in Cairo on October 2, 2011. AFP - KHALED DESOUKI
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The Egyptian prosecution ordered Sunday (July 18) the release of six human rights activists imprisoned for nearly two to three years.
Among the released activists is Israa Abdel Fattah, one of the founders of the April 6 Protest Movement which launched the uprising against ex-President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Like the other five activists, she was accused of "
spreading false information undermining social peace
”and placed in pre-trial detention pending a hypothetical trial.
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With our correspondent in Cairo,
Alexandre Buccianti
Even if it intervened on the eve of Eid, a celebration on which prisoners are released, the sudden decision of the Egyptian prosecution did not fail to surprise.
According to informed sources, the decision is linked to increasing pressure in the US Congress on President Joe Biden, accused of backtracking on the issue of human rights violations in Egypt.
Members of Parliament called for the suspension of US military aid to Egypt amounting to $ 1,300 million per year.
But the mention that seemed the most consensual was to freeze a quarter of the aid first.
The power in Cairo would also seek, by this measure, to reduce tensions with the Egyptian left.
Part of this left, opposed to the Islamists, supports the regime, but is embarrassed by the untimely arrests of leftist militants.
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