Four people arrested from Cairo demonstration for Palestine, Lebanon questioned on protest charges

Four people who were arrested earlier in the week from a demonstration are to spend another night in detention following questioning on Wednesday, defense lawyer Nabih al-Genady told Mada Masr. 

The four participated in a small demonstration held in Cairo on Monday evening to support Palestine and Lebanon against Israeli aggression. 

They were questioned at the Qasr al-Nil prosecution office on Wednesday, Genady said, in relation to the offenses of organizing a demonstration without a permit, shouting in a public place and inciting the public to violate the law. 

A total of six people stood on Zamalek’s May 15 bridge on Monday evening holding signs and chanting in support of Palestine and Lebanon. The demonstration lasted approximately 15 minutes before security forces arrived at the scene and arrested them.

Two of those who participated and were arrested, both of whom are foreign nationals, were deported from Egypt on Tuesday night, defense lawyer Islam Salama, who is also following the case, confirmed to Mada Masr.

The others have been held in detention since the time of their arrest and are to spend the night in the Qasr al-Nil police station, Ganady said. 

Nearby police stations denied knowledge of the whereabouts of the demonstrators to lawyers who sought information on Monday and Tuesday.

Mobile phones, a Palestinian keffiyeh, a banner saying “down with the Occupation” and the flags of Lebanon and Palestine were confiscated from the defendants as well, the lawyer added.

After questioning the four detainees, Genady said the prosecution postponed its decision in Case 7331/2024 until Thursday so that investigating authorities can make enquiries about the defendants.

Police have quickly shut down similar protests held in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since October 7, conducting arrests and even holding participants in detention for extended periods.

In similar scenes earlier this year, 16 people were arrested from a demonstration held in front of the UN Women regional office in Maadi, Cairo, in support of women in the wars in both Sudan and the Gaza Strip. They were ultimately released on bail after being questioned on charges of forming an illegal group and unlawful assembly under a law that tightened restrictions on gathering in public in 2013.

Protesters who gathered in Cairo and Alexandria shortly after the start of Israel's aggression on Palestinians in Gaza faced remand detention for longer periods on terrorism and false news charges.