FIDH is deeply concerned by the escalation of violence as protests against the regime continue across Egypt. “Whereas the Egyptians have responded in great numbers to calls for massive protests despite the state of emergency which remains in force and the current ban on public protest movements repeatedly reiterated by the Minister of Interior, FIDH fears that the repression of demonstrations across the country will degenerate”, said Souhayr Belhassen, President of FIDH. Particularly considering that on the night of January 27, 2011, Egyptian authorities suspended access to the Internet, preventing communications via e-mail and social networks such as Twitter and Facebook. In addition, mobile networks were cut off today, Friday, January 28, 2011. Journalists have also been targeted by the authorities during the demonstrations. FIDH strongly condemns the quasi-absolute blocking of means of communication and information by the Egyptian authorities and stresses that the authorities will be held responsible for any gross violations of Egypt's international human rights obligations. The situation in Egypt is being closely followed and with particular attention by FIDH, particularly through its representative in the League of Arab States (LAS), Hafez Abu Saeada, also president of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR), FIDH's member organization. FIDH
