CAIRO: Egyptian activists took to social media Thursday to demand the release of five detained members of a satirical street performance group whose selfie-style video clips mocked President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi.
The activists posted pictures on Facebook of themselves holding mobile phones in front of their faces with the caption: “Does a mobile phone camera rattle you?“
Police on Monday arrested four members of the group Awlad Shawarea, or “Street Children.” A fifth member was arrested over the weekend and remains in custody after a court ordered his release on Monday.
The performers face several charges, including inciting terror attacks and street protests, attempting to overthrow the government as well as insulting state institutions, according to their lawyer, Mahmoud Othman.
Othman told The Associated Press on Thursday that the five were being held at a police station in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis.
“I last saw them yesterday and they are in good condition,” he said. “The prosecution, regrettably, does not see their clips as creative work protected by the constitution.”
The five are Ezzedeen Khaled, Mohammed Adel, Mohammed Dessouki, Mohammed Yahya and Mohammed Gabr. Othman said their ages range between 19 and 25. A sixth member of the group, Mohammed Zein, has not been detained, he added.
The activists posted pictures on Facebook of themselves holding mobile phones in front of their faces with the caption: “Does a mobile phone camera rattle you?“
Police on Monday arrested four members of the group Awlad Shawarea, or “Street Children.” A fifth member was arrested over the weekend and remains in custody after a court ordered his release on Monday.
The performers face several charges, including inciting terror attacks and street protests, attempting to overthrow the government as well as insulting state institutions, according to their lawyer, Mahmoud Othman.
Othman told The Associated Press on Thursday that the five were being held at a police station in the Cairo suburb of Heliopolis.
“I last saw them yesterday and they are in good condition,” he said. “The prosecution, regrettably, does not see their clips as creative work protected by the constitution.”
The five are Ezzedeen Khaled, Mohammed Adel, Mohammed Dessouki, Mohammed Yahya and Mohammed Gabr. Othman said their ages range between 19 and 25. A sixth member of the group, Mohammed Zein, has not been detained, he added.
