The arrest of members of a band that has released a video which criticizes the Egyptian government
On May 11th it was reported that four young Egyptians, members of the Street Children band were detained for 15 days on charges of spreading on social networks and on their YouTube channel, a video, which was filmed by a mobile phone, mocking the Egyptian government after the transfer of two islands in the Red Sea to Saudi ownership. Fifth band member was arrested and released on bail of 990 Euros, a day later.
The four were charged with “Dissemination of ideas calling for acts of terrorism by setting up a video on YouTube and social networks, as well as incitement for demonstrations and the breach of public order, inciting the crowd to carry out hostile actions against state institutions.”
The arrest caused a wave of protests in which Facebook users posted hidden faces in different occasions. The posts came alongside with the use of different labels including; #كاميرا_التليفون_بتهزك, #Does_the_phone_Camera_Shake_you? , #Freedom_to_the_Street_Children, #الحرية_لأطفال_الشوارع.
Additionally, an online petition was opened and it was signed by 219 people from a thousand signatures, which were defined as the target number. Among them, the former culture minister and other key figures in Egyptian society and culture. Also a human rights organization, The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) released a statement calling for the release of the youngsters.
