Facing prison for protesting in Egypt
Eight socialists and activists in Egypt are facing two years in prison for their role in a protest in solidarity with Egyptian Copts after a deadly terror attack against a Coptic church in the first hours of the new year in 2011.
Copts are an oppressed minority in Egypt. They suffered discrimination and violence under the reign of former dictator Hosni Mubarak. The revolt that overthrew Mubarak included inspiring examples of solidarity between Muslims and Copts against the dictatorship. But the military rulers who have run the state since Mubarak's downfall have kept the apparatus of repression in place, and they continue to stoke divisions between Muslims and Copts.
In this statement, the eight Egyptian activists call on supporters around the world to participate in a May 5 day of action in solidarity with the youth of the January 25 revolution and their struggle against repression and religious discrimination.
ON MAY 13, the Egyptian Court of Appeals in Egypt will consider a sentence of two years in prison against the four socialist militants and cofounders of the Socialist Popular Alliance Party--Mohamed Atef, Mostafa Mohie Al-Din, Mostafa Shawky and Mohamed Nagy--along with four other young men.
The eight are facing prison for participating in a demonstration in solidarity with the Christian Egyptian Copts against the terror attack on the Church of the Two Saints in Alexandria, which left more than 26 Copts dead as New Years Day began in 2011.
Two days later, on January 3, the eight activists were arrested by Mubarak's police, who made up allegations that are completely illogical--such as beating up dozens of soldiers, destroying 11 armored vehicles and 20 microbuses, and smashing sidewalks and lampposts!
The misdemeanor court judge in the case decided to set us free, but the case was still pending. Though these alleged offenses came before the January 25 revolution and the eight activists were subject to imprisonment at any time since the case was ongoing, they did not hesitate to participate in the great January 25 revolution against the dictatorship of Mubarak.
After the revolution, everyone involved expected that the case would be dropped, since the revolution had been against the regime's repression of the right to protest. But to our great surprise, we found that the case was still ongoing. Then surprise turned to shock when the eight young men of the revolution were sentenced two years in prison and subject to bail of 100 Egyptian pounds during a period of legal appeals.
It has become clear that the youth of the January 25 Revolution are subject to collective punishment for demanding change, freedom and social justice. The remnants of Mubarak's toppled regime remain in power and have started an open war against the revolution and those who made it, with ongoing repression against pretests, strikes and social justice demands. They are using all forms of repression, including killing, kidnapping, military trials and finally prison sentences.
The youth of the revolution in Egypt are calling on freedom fighters all over the world-- militants, human rights activists, trade unions, pro-freedom political officeholders, solidarity movements--to side with the struggle to complete the revolution, assure freedoms in Egypt and fight all forms of discrimination.
We call on all freedom fighters everywhere to make May 5 a day of action in support of the youth of the January 25 revolution--Mostafa Mohie Al-Din, Mohamed Atef, Mostafa Shawky, Mohamed Nagy and their other comrades facing prison sentences--by:
Writing official statements from human rights organizations, solidarity movements, trade unions, civil society organizations, etc., and sending them to the Egyptian government via Egyptian embassies everywhere.
Holding demonstrations and protests in front of Egyptian embassies everywhere.
Asking the media to cover this case in newspapers
Tweeting on #Masara for solidarity with @Atef_IS, @Mohie84, @shawkyalgenawy, @muhamadnagy and their comrades.
We are keen to have your solidarity on May 5 for a day of action to rescue eight revolutionaries from jail and support them in their continued struggle against dictatorship and religious discrimination. Hopefully, we can make this a strong start in bringing massive solidarity and support for the Egyptian revolution and its youth.
Long Live the Revolution! Long Live Occupy Everywhere!
