CAIRO: Egyptian blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah and activist Bahaa Saber were summoned for a military hearing today for allegedly inciting violence during the October 9 military attack on a Coptic Christian protest that left at least 27 dead and around 300 wounded in Cairo. Fattah reportedly refused to be interrogated by the military court, rejectig its legal legitimacy. He was sentenced to 15 days in state custody pending further investigation, according to the Al-Nadeem Center for Victims of Violence in Cairo. Saber reportedly refused interrogations as well, but was released. Many have reportedly gathered in front of the C28 military court building to protest the decision, and #Freealaa has started to trend globally on Twitter. Amnesty International reported that a ‘public complaint' and video allegedly has come forward showing Fattah threw rocks during the protests, but nothing has been made public. Saber could also be charged with “verbal incitement.” “The summoning of two activists by military prosecutors is a warning that Egypt's armed forces are cracking down on criticism, including of their handling of the Maspero violence,” said Amnesty International in the statement. The “No to Military Trials” group reportedly said that 28 civilians, including three minors, are being charged in connection to the violence. The military has yet to show proof that any soldiers were killed in the violence and has accused the Coptic Christian protesters from carrying guns and attacking the troops, which led to the killing. However, eyewitnesses and Bikyamasr.com staff present on October 9 said there were no weapons among the protesters and the Coptic Christians did not start the violence. Videos published online also show the military attacks, running people over with armored vehicles. “The military justice system should never be used to investigate or prosecute civilians,” continued Amnesty International. “Military courts are fundamentally unfair, as they deprive defendants of basic fair trial guarantees. In Egypt, military courts effectively deny defendants the right to appeal, limiting it to legal points without any review of the facts and evidence of the case.” Saber was arrested in 2006 for speaking out against the government of former President Hosni Mubarak. He was again detained and tortured in 2010. Fattah was arrested in 2006 as well. The summoning announcement on October 26 came on the same day that United States President Barak Obama called to urge the head of Egypt's ruling military council, Hussein Tantawi, to urge him to bring an end to the practice of trying civilians in military courts. BM **Joseph Mayton contributed to this report.
