Egypt welcomes Oman-brokered US-Yemen ceasefire agreement    Egypt voices deep concern over India-Pakistan escalation    Egypt inks deal with Merck to advance healthcare training    Egypt's GAHAR, Expertise France to elevate healthcare quality    EGP inches up against USD in early trade    Egypt, Türkiye discuss boosting bilateral tourism    Egypt's El Khatib, EBRD Head discuss deeper EU investment    Pakistan PM says nation giving "Befitting Reply" to Indian strikes    Health Minister orders expansion of residency training programmes to strengthen medical workforce    Gaza faces humanitarian collapse amid escalating Israeli offensive, healthcare breakdown    Egypt's FRA warns against unlicensed financial investment schemes    CIB Egypt extends EGP 2.45bn bridge loan to SODIC for North Coast 'June' project    Egypt steps up export reforms with focus on quality standards, market insights, and global expansion    Al Ismaelia, Coventry University Cairo partner on urban development education    Egypt's EDA backs local vaccine industry    Euronext supports EU defence financing with new measures    Egypt's Al-Sisi meets Bohra Sultan, discusses cooperation, regional role    Egyptian FM addresses Arab Women Organization Conference opening    Egypt, Saudi Arabia deepen health sector cooperation with comprehensive MoU    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Cabinet approves establishment of national medical tourism council to boost healthcare sector    "5,000 Years of Civilizational Dialogue" theme for Korea-Egypt 30th anniversary event    Sudan conflict, bilateral ties dominate talks between Al-Sisi, Al-Burhan in Cairo    Cairo's Madinaty and Katameya Dunes Golf Courses set to host 2025 Pan Arab Golf Championship from May 7-10    Between Women Filmmakers' Caravan opens 5th round of Film Consultancy Programme for Arab filmmakers    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    Ancient military commander's tomb unearthed in Ismailia    Egypt's FM inspects Julius Nyerere Dam project in Tanzania    Egypt's FM praises ties with Tanzania    Egypt to host global celebration for Grand Egyptian Museum opening on July 3    Ancient Egyptian royal tomb unearthed in Sohag    Egyptian Minister praises Nile Basin consultations, voices GERD concerns    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Blogger Maikel Nabil released after 10 months in detention
Prominent blogger and military critic Maikel Nabil is among 1959 prisoners released by Egypt's ruling military on Saturday
Published in Ahram Online on 21 - 01 - 2012

The 10-month detention of blogger Maikel Nabil came to an end on Saturday after Egypt's de facto ruler Field Marshal Mohamed Hussein Tantawi ordered the release of 1959 prisoners who were convicted by military courts.
Nabil was arrested in March on charges of insulting the military after writing a blog post entitled “The army and the people were never one hand”, one month after the military junta assumed power following the ouster of autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak.
He was initially sentenced to three years in prison but the verdict was later trimmed to two years following a retrial.
Nabil went on hunger strike in August 2011 in protest at his imprisonment by the army, consuming only juice and milk. This escalated on 18 December as he refused all forms of nourishment before neding his strike on 31 December.
Tantawi's decision to free 1959 prisoners comes just four days before the anniversary of the January 25 Revolution, which is expected to witness large-scale protests in the iconic Tahrir Square.
“We will never forget: the army and people were never one hand,” Mark Nabil said on his Twitter account after confirming that his brother Maikel had been pardoned.
“Freeing Maikel is not enough though. The army must, before the revolution's anniversary, free all those who were convicted by military courts,” he added.
The practice of trying civilians before military courts has been the focus of tireless campaigning by pro-democracy activists, headed by the No to Military Trials campaign, since Mubarak's departure.
Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) has vowed more than once to end the practice of what is effectively extra judicial trials for citizens. It partially did, referring suspects to the public prosecution and freeing others, including blogger and activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah who was released on bail on 25 December.
Around 12,000 Egyptians are believed to have been tried by military courts since Mubarak handed over power to the SCAF on 11 February last year.


Clic here to read the story from its source.