CAIRO: Egyptian blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad was moved to solitary confinement on Thursday after a group of his supporters attempted to visit him in prison, but were turned away after spending almost two hours waiting. Sanad entered his third day of a hunger strike and an eyewitness from inside the prison told his supporters that his health is deteriorating. Sanad is serving a three-year prison sentence, handed down by a military court, for a post he wrote criticizing Egypt's current ruling authority the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF). Many rights activists have repeatedly criticized the SCAF for imprisoning bloggers or activists for criticism and putting them through military courts, which have no appeals process and say such courts have no guarantees for fair trials. The SCAF said it respects freedom of speech, but will not tolerate “deconstructive criticism and slander.” Rights activists estimate the number of political detainees since the ousting of former President Hosni Mubarak to be over 10,000 being held in military prisons. Activists say a report has been filed at the prison stating that Sanad is on a hunger strike, which would put the prison liable for his health situation. BM
