Call for Solidarity with Egypt
- call for Solidarity with Egypt: Defend the Revolution!
- Saturday, November 12, 2011
3pm la Place du Peuple
métro Square Victoria
at Occupy Montreal
in front of the statue
Montreal, Quebec
info facebook event
On February 11, 2011, after 18 days of demanding social and economic justice, Egyptians succeeded in overthrowing Hosni Mubarak and ending his 30-year dictatorship. But their struggle continues, as they now organize and unite against the military regime that is attempting to hijack the revolution.
Since the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) assumed de-facto rule of Egypt on 28 January 2011, at least twelve thousand civilians have been subjected to speedy military trials, often without any access to lawyers, witnesses, or evidence. SCAF is using military trials as a means to stifle dissent and create a climate of fear in Egypt.
In recent weeks, the military courts have sparked renewed controversy. On 27 October 2011, Essam Atta, who was serving a two-year sentence at the infamous Tora prison, died after being tortured by prison guards inspiring comparisons to the torture and death of Khaled Said by police officers in Alexandria, one of the catalysts of the Egyptian Revolution. Ironically, just the day before, on 26 October 2011, the Alexandria Criminal Court sentenced the police officers who murdered Khaled Said to seven years each, causing anger and disbelief among Egyptians, especially after witnessing military courts dole out much longer sentences to ordinary citizens for unsubstantiated charges.
Renowned revolutionary and blogger Alaa Abd El Fattah, who is awaiting his first child in a few weeks, was summoned to a military trial while at a conference in the United States. The military accused him of “inciting violence against the army” during the 9 October 2011 Maspero demonstration, at which the military attacked protesters, resulting in the death of at least 28 people.
On 30 October 2011, Abd El Fattah appeared at Cairo’s notorious C28 military prosecution headquarters where police arrested and detained him for refusing to answer the interrogators’ questions. His administrative detention, which could be arbitrarily extended at the military’s will, caused an uproar in Egypt marked by demonstrations and protests. The military refused to release him at an appeal hearing on 3 November 2011, and he is currently still detained at Tora Investigative Prison. Abd el Fattah’s mother, Dr. Laila Souief, went on a hunger strike on 6 November 2011, saying she will continue her strike until her son is released.
Activists formed No Military Trials for Civilians to resist and condemn SCAF’s use of military trials and violations against civilians. They have called for a global day of action on 12 November 2011. Come to a speak-out and teach-in at Occupy Montreal, on Saturday, November 12, at 3pm to stand in solidarity with the brave Egyptians who continue to defend their Revolution and learn about the latest developments.
- photo “Tahrir Square” via Hossam el-Hamalawy
