Egypt charges 28 with forming illegal group

Egypt’s chief prosecutor has referred 28 people to the criminal court on charges of forming an illegal group seeking to overthrow the government of President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.

Prosecutor Nabil Sadek said in a statement yesterday that the accused men also face various other charges, including disseminating false news and inciting violence. The men had formed a group named “The Egyptian Council for Change” through which they hoped to achieve their goals

Although nine of the 28 suspects are in custody, no date has yet been set for a trial.

Egypt has witnessed an immense crackdown on freedom of speech in the country and an increase in arbitrary arrests since the ousting of democratically elected President Mohamed Morsi, justified by the government as necessary in preventing dissent.

Read: Egypt convicts journalists for insulting Al-Sisi’s family

Al-Sisi won a second term in office in a March election that featured only one other candidate – himself an ardent Al-Sisi supporter – after all serious opposition contenders halted their campaigns citing intimidation and several arrests.

Human rights groups and NGOs have condemned Egypt’s deteriorating human and civil rights record under Al-Sisi, but his supporters say his tough security policy is needed to ensure stability as Egypt recovers from years of political chaos and tackles widespread economic challenges.

Amnesty International noted in the annual World Report earlier this year that the Egyptian government blocked at least 434 websites since last May, and arrested at least 240 political activists between April and September for online posts that were considered “insulting” to Al-Sisi.

Hundreds of journalists and human rights activists have also been arrested and held without trial. Last month, Egyptian authorities arrested award-winning blogger and journalist Wael Abbas, accusing him of involvement with an illegal organisation and publishing false news.

Read: Egyptian court adjourns trial of Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide