Press Release: POMED Condemns Arrest of Ahmed Maher

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 10, 2013

Project on Middle East Democracy Condemns Arrest of April 6 Leader Ahmed Maher

The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) condemns the arrest of April 6 leader Ahmed Maher in Egypt today, Friday, May 10.  According to an interior ministry official, Maher is accused of inciting a protest outside the house of Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim and is to be detained for four days pending an investigation. Ahmed Maher was arrested at the Cairo airport upon arrival, after returning from a visit to the United States. The goal of Maher’s trip to the U.S. was to highlight the many challenges to democratic progress in Egypt, including a widespread crackdown on freedom of speech, assembly, and association.

His detention follows the arrests of other notable activists such as Ahmed Domaa as well as the trial of Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef and activists Alaa Abdel Fattah and his sister Mona Seif. The recent flurry of arrests and trials for accusations of organizing demonstrations, and insulting the president or government officials are disturbing indicators of the Egyptian government’s use of Mubarak-era tactics against opposition figures.  Peaceful protest and the protection of basic political freedoms are fundamental components of democracy that must be upheld for Egypt’s democratic transition to succeed.During his visit, Maher also spoke publicly in Washington, DC on Egypt’s transition and met with senior officials from the U.S. State Department, the Obama administration, and Congress. Maher has been a vocal advocate for international support of Egypt’s democratic transition and civil society, but a critic of U.S. policy that lacks strong support of democratic values in Egypt.

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For more information, or for those seeking comment, please contact Susannah Cunningham, at (202) 828-9660, ext. 26/ susannah.cunningham@pomed.org