CAIRO: The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights urged the Supreme Council of Armed Forces to pardon and release army Major Ahmed Shoman, who joined Tahrir protesters a week ago to demand president Hosni Mubarak's ouster. Shoman is to stand before a military court next Tuesday, facing charges of inciting people to overthrow the regime, neglect, disobeying orders, and surrendering his weapon as well as joining protesters in Tahrir and calling on Mubarak to heed people's demand for him to step down. The organization is following up with the major's case while he is currently being detained in an army airbase. "The organization urges [Minister of Defense Field] Marshal Tantawi to completely pardon Shoman, whose stance came as a reflection of his great leadership in showing support to the demands of the Jan. 25 revolution, reflected in the appreciation of the army spokesman for the revolution martyrs," the statement read. "Shoman's stance was a true expression of the Egyptian army's honorable position to support the wellbeing of the Egyptian people demanding their freedom and enhancing democracy and human rights." Secretary General of the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights Hafez Abo Saeda told Daily News Egypt that the organization sent a memo to Tantawi calling for the release of Shoman. "Pardoning Shoman will be the expression of the national spirit of the army that was apparent since the start of the revolution." said Abo Saeda.
