CAIRO: The Appeals Court rejected Monday a request to release activist Alaa Abdel-Fattah, remanded in custody since Oct. 30 pending investigations into the Maspero clashes. The activist's lawyers lodged the request after his detention was renewed for 15 more days last week. Abdel-Fattah's case, along that of 36 other detainees, was referred from military prosecution to State Security Prosecution. He's accused of illegal assembly to commit acts of terrorism and stealing weapons during the Maspero clashes. On Oct. 9, army forces violently dispersed a mainly Coptic protest, leaving 27 dead and hundreds injured. The Egyptian Center for Social and Economic Rights said its team presented documents proving that Abdel-Fattah arrived on site of the clashes at 8 pm, when the violence already ended. The center did not provide details about these documents. Abdel-Fattah was summoned over a month ago by military prosecution for questioning with activist Bahaa Saber, but both refused to be interrogated by military prosecution as civilians. They also hold that the military is party to the crime and hence should not be investigating it. Abdel-Fattah only answered question when he was referred to the state security prosecution. Lawyers had expected him to be released last week. Abdel-Fattah's mother, university professor Laila Soueif, ended an 18-day hunger strike when her son was referred to a civilian prosecution.
