Egypt renews detention of 59 Al-Ahly fans over support for Palestine

Al-Ahly fans raise the flag of Palestine Football African Football League Semi-final in Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt November 1, 2023 [Abeer Ahmed/NurPhoto via Getty Images]

An Egyptian Criminal Court yesterday renewed the detention of 59 Al-Ahly fans for another 45 days pending investigations for raising the Palestinian flag and chanting in solidarity with Gaza during their team’s football match in June.

The detention decision was renewed via video conference; the fans did not attend the session.

The defence committee of the club’s fans has repeatedly asked Attorney General, Mohamed Shawky Ayad, to release the detainees who are still students, explaining that due to their detention, they were unable to take their end of year exams.

The defence committee also explained that if their detention continues, they will not be able to take their exams this year and subsequently may be expelled from school.

Fourteen students have been released while 59 others are still in detention.

READ: Egypt’s Al-Ahly dedicates World Cup qualification to Palestine in Saudi Arabia

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