Presidential spokesman, Yasser Ali Presidential spokesperson denies military officers jailed for taking part in anti-SCAF protest on 8 April 2011 are due to be released. No decision has been taken on the release of military officers jailed for taking part in an anti-Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) protest on 8 April 2011, presidential spokesperson Yasser Ali said Tuesday. His comments were in response to comments on Monday by the wife of Ahmed Shoman, one of the jailed officers, who claimed her husband and the other officers would be released soon. "The issue of the 8 April officers is under consideration. No decision has been taken," Ali told state news agency MENA. Speaking to ONTV satellite channel, Shoman's wife stated on Monday that she had received a phone call from a presidential source informing her that her husband would be released. Around 22 officers were arrested on 8 April 2011 during one of the square's trademark million-man demonstrations against the then ruling SCAF. Speaking on the same ONTV show, retired General Tarek Wadia, father of Mohamed Wadia, one of the jailed 8 April officers, said he had met with Amr El-Laithy, a member of the presidential advisory council, who had denied knowing when his son would be released. Ahmed Shoman is one of dozens of army personnel jailed for joining protesters in Tahrir Square during and after the 2011 uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak.
