Sources told Al-Jazeera that the Egyptian authorities have arrested dozens of those who participated in the demonstrations during the past days, and the prosecution charged them with several charges. Meanwhile, protesters gathered in front of the Security Directorate in Aswan to demand the release of two detained children.
Lawyers confirmed that among the detainees were children and women, and said that most of them were from Egyptian villages and regions, denouncing their imprisonment for opposing the current regime.
Lawyer Khaled Ali said that no less than 150 detainees were brought to the State Security Prosecution for investigation in what became known as the events of September 20.
He explained that they are pending investigations of Case 880 of 2020, in which charges were brought against them of belonging to a terrorist group, spreading false rumors and news, misuse of communication means, and some of them were also added to charges of financing, gathering or inciting a gathering.
Human rights defender Ahmed Mufreh denounced what he said was a continuation of the grave violations of citizens' rights, and said that the authority is using its power to establish a "republic of fear" in Egypt.
Egypt witnessed, over the course of 3 days, angry demonstrations in a number of villages and cities, to demand the departure of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, following a call to demonstrate launched by businessman Muhammad Ali and adopted by a large number of opposition forces.
Protesters complain about the deteriorating living conditions, and house demolitions that have expanded in recent times.
Eyewitnesses said that the demonstrations on Tuesday in Luxor and Aswan in the south, and in Al-Warraq and some villages in Giza Governorate, were met with force by the security forces, who fired tear gas canisters and arrested demonstrators.
Today, the pioneers of social media platforms shared pictures and videos showing citizens gathered in front of the Security Directorate in Aswan Governorate, to demand the release of two children who were arrested following the events of September 20 in the village of West Suhail in the governorate.
Activists said that the families gathered after learning of the deterioration of the health of one of the two children, and he lost consciousness during his presentation to the prosecution office today.
Protests block the road in front of the Security Directorate of # Aswan to demand the release of children detained in the events of West Suhail on # 20_September pic.twitter.com/KT9mlF7BU6
- Al Jazeera Egypt (@AJA_Egypt) September 23, 2020