Al-Fagr newspaper journalist Rasha Azab and Chief Editor Adel Hamouda were summoned to appear in front of the military prosecution on Sunday for investigation on a story about the ruling military council published on Wednesday.
The story published the details of a meeting that took place between SCAF member Hassan al-Roweiny and other generals with members of the “No to Military Trials” group of activists. According to the story, Roweiny was reportedly shocked to see videos of military abuses and he couldn’t deny the incidents but said they are individual ones.
In the story, Azab also wrote about the alleged military violations that were discussed in the meeting which include the torture of civilians arrested on 9 March by the military police, subjecting girls to virginity tests and keeping thousands in military prisons to this day.
Azab was herself detained on 9 March and spoke up about the violations that she witnessed during her incarceration in many occasions.
The summoning of Azab and Hamouda created public discontent as activists are calling for a protest in front of the military prosecution on Sunday when the investigation session is scheduled.
Blogger and activist Hossam al-Hamalawy and Journalists Reem Maged and Nabil Sharaf al-Din were also summoned for investigation last month for their statements in the media on SCAF. Presidential candidate Bothaina Kamel was also summoned for military investigation in May for her criticism of the ruling council.
The military council said that summoning of journalists was an invitation for a friendly discussion. Human rights organizations and activists however criticized the move as an attempt to intimidate journalists in order to limit freedom of expression.
