“Am out with family and friends and feeling very loved, c u at the military prosecutor tomorrow folks. Pray for both my release and the people with me tomorrow, I don't want to miss Khaled's birth,” announced Alaa Abdel Fatah (@alaa), a prominent Egyptian activist and blogger, just a day before he was due in front of the military prosecution with fellow activist Bahaa Saber. Both men's charges were shocking and absurd: inciting violence at the Black Sunday Maspero protest– a crime the two activists never committed. Many were not only enraged over the investigation, but also over the fact that the military refused to acknowledge themselves as a party to the #maspero massacre. Crowds of demonstrators grew infront of #c28, the military prosecution headquarters, hoping for the release of the two activists. The crowd chanted against the military council, ”Kill Khaled, Kill Mina, every bullet makes us fearless,” and ”Down with military rule.” News erupted that the military prosecution decided to detain @alaa for 15 days– a period that can be renewed indefinitely, and the crowd roared. When interrogated about #maspero, @alaa had only one thought in mind: Spread the cause, even by self sacrifice. @Alaa was courageous enough to refuse to answer his prosecutor's questions, announcing that it was illegal to be standing in front of a military party accused of a crime. This provoked the military official handing the case, who then decided to detain @alaa for the 15 day term, pending investigations. However, his was not the only ludicrous side of the military fairy story. The anecdote gets ugly and disturbing when Martyr #Mina Daniel, who was killed mercilessly by the army during the Bloody Sunday Maspero protest, was said to be on top of the military prosecutor's list of those accused of inciting violence. ”Our military is the only organization in the world that calls for investigations with the dead,” sarcastically announced a Twitter user. ”I wouldn't be surprised if deceased Egyptians will be voting in the elections since martyrs are now facing military trials #MinaDaniel,” said @raniadailynews. Angrily, @FarahSaafan tweeted: ”#MinaDaniel‘s sister went to show support to @alaa only to find out that her dead brother is among those charged with inciting violence!” Bahaa Saber was next in order for interrogation. He also refused to admit the authority of the military. However, Bahaa was surprisingly released, making people wonder if the prosecutor felt threatened by the online outrage calling for @alaa‘s release. Overwhelming support and respect flooded in for both men's bold stances; online rage was inevitable, blogs were written, and the #freealaa hashtag was trending worldwide like the holy #jan25 did a few months ago in no time. In support of @Alaa‘s case, @Bassem_Sabry published background on @Alaa‘s work as an activist. “@Alaa Abdel Fattah is one of the earliest bloggers in #Egypt, blogging since 2004 with his wife @Manal on www.manalaa.net. @Alaa was arrested in 2006 after a protest supporting #Egypt‘s Free Judiciary movement, released after 45 days imprisonment and this is first when #freeAlaa was used. @Alaa‘s family are activists. Father Ahmed Seif is lawyer and human rights activist. He once ran the Hisham Mubarak Law Centre, and was imprisoned for five years in the 1980s. @Alaa‘s sister @Monasosh a main face of the #NoMilTrials movement in #Egypt. His Mother Laila Soueif is a professor and activist. @Alaa and his wife @manal (also an activist coming from an activist family) returned from work in South Africa to join #Jan25. He and his wife are expecting a baby boy, Khaled, named after Khaled Said.” The human rights group @Nomiltrials announced: ”We demand that Alaa Abd El Fattah be freed immediately, that military trials of civilians be stopped and all those sentenced thus far be released or, at least, retried before civilian courts. We support all of those who similarly refuse to recognize the legitimacy of the military prosecution. This is not the Egypt we have fought and died for.” #MaikelNabil, the Activists' Silence of the Lambs: “#MaikelNabil didn't trend once & he is already tried, sentenced, was on hunger strike & was sent to an asylum you dirty scum. #FreeMaikel,” tweeted @MohHKamel after arguing that Maikel's story was not given as much popular support as @alaa‘s. #MaikelNabil was the first to say ”No, I will not subside to you” in front of a military court, causing the court to send him to a psychiatric hospital. #MaikelNabil is to be tried again on November 1, marking the 70th day in his overlasting and inspiring hunger strike. Will you give him as much support as you did with @alaa? Are you going to sacrifice him to the #SCAF? It is only your silence that will kill him alone; this will be your act in the silence of the lambs. It is January 24 all again, with strong forces seeking revenge, and trying to gag us all. Now it is the #SCAF‘s turn to understand what @alaa once said: ”When will the SCAF understand that many revolutionaries are afraid of their tender loving mothers more than they fear death from a soldier's bullets or torture.” Glory to the martyrs and every free Egyptian voice. Menna Alaa (@TheMiinz) BM
