democracia participativa y derechos humanos / participatory democracy & human rights

According to news outlet Bikya Masr and reports from Egyptian activists, in the morning of January 15, at least twenty activists were arrested in Egypt when they exited a train in Nagaa Hammadi.  Activists were traveling to this village in an attempt to show solidarity to the victims of sectarian violence that occurred on January 6 during a Coptic Christmas Eve service resulting in the death of seven Christian Copts. The organizers efforts were not political, but instead were meant to show that Egyptians of diverse backgrounds could unite to support fellow citizens in the midst of growing sectarian conflict.

Upon their arrest, they were taken to local state security offices and were later transferred to the city of Qena in separate cars. There are reports that security forces confiscated their identification cards and phones as well as inflicted physical and verbal abuse. Of those arrested, many are well-known citizen journalists and bloggers, including Esraa Abdelfattah, Wael Abbas, Bassem Fathy, and Ismail Askandarani as well as Bassem Samir  and Ahmed Badawy who are also members of El Ghad party. Also arrested was French activist, Nadia Zena'ie, who has been denied contact with the French Embassy. In an effort to gain the release of those arrested, Egyptian activists are leading a sit-in at the Journalists Sydnicate in Cairo. Please show your support for those arrested by contacting the Egyptian government, Egyptian missions and embassies, demanding their release.

For more information from Bikya Masr, go to: http://bikyamasr.com/?p=7605.  |   For more information, go to: http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/news/bloggers-arrested-en-route-naga-hammadi.   |    For more information, go to: http://www.demdigest.net/blog/democracy-promotion/egypt-police-bar-activists-from-site-of-sectarian-attack.html.   |   To read the full list of those arrested, go to: http://globalvoicesonline.org/2010/01/15/egypt-bloggers-arrested-over-naga-hammady-massacre/.  |   For information in Arabic, go to: http://www.trella.org/c/?p=533.