Growing anger as critics held in Egypt

Egypt’s military ordered a prominent blogger to be held in custody for a further 15 days yesterday in a move likely to galvanise mounting criticism of the country’s ruling generals.

Alaa Abdel-Fattah is among the most prominent of some 12,000 Egyptians who have faced military trials since Egypt’s Supreme Council of the Armed Forces took control of the country from President Hosni Mubarak in February.

Mr Abdel-Fattah has not been formally charged, though his family says he has been accused of stealing a military weapon, vandalising military property, and violently assaulting security officers – allegations he denies.

He is being held for refusing to answer questions from military interrogators, who he says should not play a role in trying civilians.

The trials, along with other issues, have caused many activists to lose faith in the armed forces. Many say they run the country no more fairly than Mubarak did and fear they will not hand over power to civilian authorities as promised.

Military prosecutors detained Mr Abdel-Fattah on 30 October after he refused to answer questions over his alleged role in sectarian clashes last month that killed 27 people, most of them Christians.

His family has used his case to highlight the issue of military trials. His mother, Laila Soueif, said she was on her eighth day of a hunger strike and would hold out until he is freed.

“I’m going to continue with my hunger strike, and I think that the reaction of everybody, including myself, will be anger,” said Ms Soueif, 55.

Last week, the UN human rights office called on Egypt’s military rulers to release Mr Abdel- Fattah and others allengedly detained for their criticism.