Three activists who are members of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party remain in detention two days after they were arrested by the military police, their defense lawyers said on Sunday.
The three youth leaders in the party, Islam Amin, Karim al-Kanani and Mohamed Masood, were arrested on the evening of 12 July in front of the house of military police Major General Hamdy Badeen while participating in a campaign to educate citizens on the constitution and military trials.
In a statement posted on the Egyptian Social Democratic Party's official page, the detainees’ defense team condemned the fact that the military police transferred the three activists into detention. They argued that this move is blatantly against prison regulations, since the primary term of imprisonment is four days and the detainee cannot be transferred to a public prison within that time. For the activists, one day remains in this four-day period.
Amnesty International has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the activists, noting that they are being held solely for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of assembly.
A statement issued by the group expressed its concern that although they are civilians, the activists could face an "unfair trial" before a military court. "Political activists are prisoners of conscience, and are at risk of being tortured or any other form of ill-treatment while in detention."
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
