Egyptian Activist Is Released After Questioning

CAIRO — The Egyptian authorities on Saturday released a prominent activist who had been critical of the country’s Islamist president.

The activist, Ahmed Maher, had been arrested Friday at the Cairo airport upon returning from abroad. He was questioned and held overnight in a high-security prison, and he was released Saturday on the order of a state prosecutor.

Mr. Maher, a leader of the April 6 Youth Group, was accused of inciting protests in front of the Egyptian interior minister’s house in March.

Rights groups have accused the government of President Mohamed Morsi of using such arrests to intimidate its opponents.