Egyptian women send letter of defiance and hope from prison

Egyptian women who were sentenced to 11 years in prison on Tuesday for taking part in a protest against the coup have sent a letter of defiance and hope from their cells. The anti-coup protesters expressed their pride in being part of the movement to return democracy and freedom to their country.

The letter reflected the high spirit amongst the detainees despite the renewal of their detention and pschological torture they experience in prison. They said that they are not surprised at the length of the sentences, “which prove that the coup authorities fear those who seek freedom”.

“Our sole weapon is supplication to Allah, which is the best worship,” they declared. “Our jailers fear our dua because it gives us hope.” The only help asked for is that people should also pray to the Almighty to save them. “We call upon you to pray for Allah to protect us and protect all Muslims, whose blood the coup leaders have spilt, as well as to accept our patience and grant us more faith and persistance.”

Calling upon people to continue their action against the coup, the women wrote: “Do not give up hope because victory is approaching. We will never give up hope. Despair is treachery.” They expressed their hope that “tomorrow” they will live “in a free country full of justice and security”, in their “beloved Egypt”.

The women are on the receiving end of what they describe as “harsh” treatment from the police. “They think that we are women and can’t take torture; that they will frighten us,” they wrote, “but we will not be affected by the psychological war; they will not be able to harm us because Allah is with us.If Allah is with us, who will be against us?”

List of the young girls and women arrested

1. Youmna Anas Mohammad Abu Eisa – High school student – 15 years old
2. Khadiga BahauEddin Mohamamd – High school student – 15 years old
3. Radwa – High school student – 15 years old
4. FatimaAl Zahraa Nabil – High school student – 15 years old
5. Salma Rida Mohammad – High school student – 16 years old
6. Aisha AbduAllah Abdul Samei – High school student – 16 years old
7. Mawada Mohsen Mustafa – High school student – 16 years old
8. Ayah Kamal Eddin Hasan – High school student – 17 years old
9. Nesma Mounir ASsayid – High school student – less than 18 years old
10. Jehad Mwafi Jaber – Faculty of Arts and Humanities – 18 years old
11. Maha Mohammad Mustafa – Faculty of Sciences – 18 years old
12. Muna Maher Al Biltagi – Faculty of Sciences – 18 years old
13. Aya Tareq Mustafa – Faculty of Pharmacy – 18 years old
14. Somayah Bishr – Faculty of Arts and Humanities – 18 years old
15. Ola Alaa Eddin Ibrahim – Faculty of Engineering – 18 years old
16. Israa Jamal Shaaban – Faculty of Fine Arts – 19 years old
17. Sumaya Rajab Ali – Faculty of Sciences – 19 years old
18. Sarah Abdul Qader – Faculty of Fine Arts – 19 years old
19. Alaa Osama El Iraqi – Faculty of Fine Arts – 22 years old
20. Rawda Husam Shabai – Faculty of Engineering – 22 years old
21. Salwa Mohamamd Al Sayed
22. Sounya Abdul Rahman Ahmad – Law – Masters student – mother of two

29 Nov 2013, 11.15 UTC – Page updated with the list of those arrested and the image gallery