"Random" Egypt arrests after Israel embassy attack

[King_David]

By Yasmine Saleh

CAIRO | Mon Sep 19, 2011 8:37pm BST

(Reuters) - Egyptian rights groups have accused Egyptian authorities of carrying out random arrests after this month's attack on the Israeli embassy in Cairo, citing it as another example of a return to the ways of ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Security forces detained around 200 people after protesters stormed the embassy building on September 9 and clashed with police. Three people died and more than 1,000 were injured.

The arrests have stoked fears of a return to police tactics used under Mubarak. Those in custody could be tried in special security courts under emergency laws still in place despite Mubarak's ouster.

Rights officials said many of those detained were bystanders or passersby.

"We are getting reports that many of those detained were not related to the attacks and just happened to be in the area," said Gamal Eid, head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, describing the government response as "hysterical."

"Security officials during Mubarak's time simply used to detain every one who was around and now the same thing has happened in the attacks on the Israeli embassy," Eid said.

Heavy handed security policies are widely seen as one of the factors that led to the protests that forced Mubarak from office in February. A military council took control and appointed a government to steer the country towards elections.


http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/19/uk-egypt-detentions-idUKTRE78I4Y220110919

[King_David]

1. Sad for Egypt that Arab Spring

Did not bring Democracy.

Some choice now,status quo or Islamic extremism.