Protesters in central Cairo
CAIRO, Sept 27 (NNN-AGENCIES) — At least 1,900 people have been detained since protests against President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi began in Cairo and other Egyptian cities last week, the head of a rights monitoring group said.
Gamal Eid, head of the Arab Network for Human Rights Information, said the arrests had been made between Friday last week and Wednesday and described them as part of the “most violent campaign in Egypt’s (modern) history”.
An interior ministry spokesman could not immediately be reached for comment.
Protesters chanting “Leave, Sisi” gathered in Cairo and other cities on Friday last week following online calls for demonstrations against alleged government corruption. The protests continued in the Red Sea city of Suez on Saturday.
There have been calls for similar protests today (Friday), though supporters of the government are also planning mass rallies to show their support for Sisi.
Security forces have stepped up their presence in main squares in major cities and have been checking mobile phones for political content.
The protests have unnerved investors and led to a pro-Sisi campaign in Egypt’s strictly controlled media.
On Thursday the front page of private pro-government newspaper Al Dostour carried pictures of 33 opposition figures, activists, journalists and writers under the headline: “Beware of them.” — NNN-AGENCIES
