CAIRO: Leading blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah was handed a new 15-day detention on Sunday, despite strong calls from local activists and international groups for his release. According to initial reports, Fattah did have one charge, “stealing weapons” removed from his list of accusations by the military prosecutor. However, the prosecutor was reported later Sunday afternoon as saying that this charge in fact has not been dropped. The blogger refused in late October to deal with a military investigation, saying it had no “legitimacy” in trying civilians. He was then sentenced to 15 days in state custody pending further investigation. He is charged with 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. He is also charged with attempting to attack the military forces guarding the state television building. He was arrested in 2006 during a protest movement that for a few months galvanized the country. His arrest and detention has gone international, with activists worldwide holding vigils and demanding that Egypt's ruling Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) release the embattled activist. Fattah's mother, Laila Soueif, has entered into a hunger strike in solidarity for her jailed son. According to activists present on Sunday, hoping that Fattah would be released, the blogger chanted from the vehicle he was being held in, “down with the SCAF” as he was leaving and returning to his cell. BM
