Al-Wazir inaugurates glass factory, lays foundation stone for new appliance plant at Elaraby Group    New expansion projects, public-private partnerships to modernize, localise industry: El-Shimy    A blaze that exposed Egypt's fragile digital backbone    Al-Sisi attends high-level African summit to strengthen continental coordination, regional integration    Egypt, Mexico discuss environmental cooperation, combating desertification    Egypt launches anti-drug awareness campaign for drivers    Germany faces recruitment hurdles in push to rearm, eyes conscription    HDB expands national footprint with 'Acacia' branch in New Cairo    Lavrov warns against anti-Russia alliances in Asia during North Korea visit    Needle-spiking attacks in France prompt government warning, public fear    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    S. Korea's c. bank holds base rate at 2.50%    Egypt's annual core CPI inflation eases to 11.4% in June: CBE    Egypt's EDA, Haleon discuss local market support    Korea Culture Week in Egypt to blend K-Pop with traditional arts    Egypt, France FMs review Gaza ceasefire efforts, reconstruction    Egypt, Pakistan boost healthcare ties – Cabinet    CIB finances Giza Pyramids Sound and Light Show redevelopment with EGP 963m loan    Greco-Roman tombs with hieroglyphic inscriptions discovered in Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Egypt condemns deadly terrorist attack in Niger        Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt's GAH, Spain's Konecta discuss digital health partnership    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    Egypt's Democratic Generation Party Evaluates 84 Candidates Ahead of Parliamentary Vote    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    Egypt's PM follows up on Julius Nyerere dam project in Tanzania    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
Hatem Maher 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.