As the detention of prominent blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah has stirred wide anger, the Coalition for Independent Culture will hold a protest demanding an end to military trials for civilians The Coalition for Independent Culture will hold a protest the coming Wednesday, 16 November at 6pm in Talaat Harb Square, in downtown Cairo to denounce military trials for civilians. The coalition demands that the military stop passing civilians' cases through military courts and that all detainees be retried in civilian courts. It also demands the release of the well-known activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, as well as Amr El Beheiry and the 12 thousand civilians in military prosecution. Alaa Abdel Fattah was detained for 15 days pending investigation into allegations that he incited violence and assaulted military personnel during the Maspero clashes on 9 October. His 15-day detention was renewed yesterday. Citizens accuse the military of violently attacking a peaceful, mostly Coptic march heading towards the state TV building, Maspero. Clashes broke out at Maspero, leaving 26 dead. Blogger Abdel Fatah then refused to be questioned by the military prosecution; objecting that the military should not investigate the Maspero attacks, considering they are the perpetrator.
