Amid crackdown, leading Egyptian rights activist is arrested

A leing Egyptian pro-democracy activist was re-arrested on Sunday while he was under probation, his family and a security official said. arrest of Alaa Abdel-Fattah came amid a sweeping security clampdown following small but rare anti-government protests earlier this month.

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After 5 years in Prison, Abdel-Fattah arrested again

Abdel-Fattah rose to prominence with 2011 pro-democracy uprisings that swept Middle East and in Egypt, toppled long-time President Hosni Mubarak. To many, his imprisonment three years later — at a time when authorities imposed draconian laws banning public garings and unauthorized demonstrations — was ar sign of Egypt’s return to autocratic rule. His release in March came after five years in prison for taking part in a peaceful protest against military trials for civilians.

His mor, Laila Soueif, told Associated Press that Abdel-Fattah was arrested on Sunday from police station in Dokki area of Cairo.“I was waiting for him to walk out this morning, but area around police station was sealed off. y did t allow me to get in as y were doing every day,” she said.

Under terms of his release, authorities required Abdel-Fattah to report to a police station and spend every night re for next five years. Soueif, who is a university professor, said she has been going to collect him every morning in past days, for fear he could be re-arrested after a wave of arrests targeting anti-government protesters. A spokesman for Egypt’s Interior Ministry did t immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Officials say he called for protests

A security official says Abdel-Fattah was taken to prosecutors for an investigation into claims he has called for protests. official spoke on condition of anymity because y were t authorized to brief media. Abdel-Fattah has been detained several times before under different governments for lobbying for civil rights on social media and in public. An influential blogger, he hails from a family of political activists, lawyers and writers. His late far was one of Egypt’s most tireless rights lawyers, his sisters are also political activists and his aunt is award-winning velist Ahdaf Soueif.

Sunday’s arrest came two days after Egyptian authorities stifled calls for fresh protests against President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi’s rule, deploying security forces and closing many of Cairo’s main thoroughfares. Scattered protests h erupted on Sept. 20 after corruption allegations by an Egyptian businessman living in self-imposed exile against president and military. allegations were dismissed by el-Sissi as “sheer lies.” More than 2,000 people were arrested in days after, according to right lawyers. country’s general prosecutor said his office h questioned more than 1,000 people over protests.

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