Twenty-six members of Ultras White Knights, hardcore fans of Zamalek football club, had their detention renewed for 15 days on Monday, overturning an earlier decision to release them.
On Saturday, a North Cairo court ordered their release with bail of LE500 each.
However, prosecutors immediately appealed the decision to release the detainees.
They were arrested in August and charged with violating a controversial protest law which bans public demonstrations that have not received prior authorisation from the police.
They were arrested in clashes with security forces in Cairo’s Shubra neighbourhood. The fans were protesting against the detention of their colleagues who were arrested for allegedly trying to assassinate Zamalek club chairman Mortada Mansour in August.
During Monday’s court session, defence lawyer Tarek El-Awady said there was no evidence against his clients.
El-Awady said that the interior ministry usually presented video evidence in such cases. But no such evidence had been presented on this occasion.
Several detained Ultras members among 36 waiting trial in the case have joined a growing hunger strike campaign. It began two weeks ago to denounce the detention of political activists and to demand reform of the protest law.
Over 80 prisoners have joined the hunger strike in Egyptians jails. Many others, including the detainees’ relatives, journalists and political figures, have joined the hunger strike in solidarity with them.
Source : Ahram online
