Journalists suspend hunger strike following release of Shura Council defendants

The “Journalists against the Protest Law” group suspended their hunger strike on Monday until Thursday, following a court’s decision to release defendants in the Shura Council case on bail.

In a statement, the journalists said they are suspending their hunger strike in light of the “solidarity and support we received from other journalists and following the court’s decision to release some of those detained on charges related to violating the Protest Law.”

The group called for a meeting on Thursday at the Journalists’ Syndicate to discuss the next move in their campaign against the Protest Law.

A group of journalists started a hunger strike on Saturday denouncing the Protest Law, in solidarity with hunger-striking detainees languishing in prisons as well as a sit-in at the Journalists Syndicate. They said they would decide on their next move following Monday’s court session.

Earlier on Monday, the Cairo Criminal Court released Alaa Abd El Fattah, Mohamed Noubi and Wael Metwally on LE5,000 bail in the ongoing Shura Council case. The judge presiding over the case also stepped down.

In the statement, the journalists lauded those standing against the Protest Law, affirming that they will remain in solidarity with those continuing their hunger strikes whether in or out of prison.

They reiterated their demands in annulling the Protest Law and releasing those detained on charges related to it, and vowed to move forward with their campaign until their demands are met, which also include releasing detained journalists and enacting articles in the constitution that protect them.

“Our movement is not just about a few of those detained, but about the cause, which is a direct result of the Protest Law that violates Egyptians’ rights, including journalists,” the statement concluded.

The journalists had also organized a protest at the Journalists Syndicate on Sunday, as part of their ongoing campaign.

The “We are fed up” movement, which was started by hunger-striking detainees in August, has been gaining momentum as more and more detainees have launched hunger strikes to demand justice. Others outside of prisons have joined in solidarity.