The Egyptian army and police have sent thugs using clubs and armoured cars to smash up the camp of martyrs’ families and their supporters in Tahrir Square on 1 August. The Front to Defend Egyptian Protestors confirmed the names of 82 people arrested, some of whom have since been released, while activists from the No Military Trials campaign say that around 110 arrested protestors were held overnight. Details of the list of arrested protestors can be found here.

Please send protests, demanding an end to repression and the release without charge of all those arrested, to the Egyptian embassy in London at eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg and to the Egyptian prime minister at pm@cabinet.gov.eg and info@essamsharaf.org
Please copy protest emails to menasolidarity@gmail.com

Suggested text of statement:

“We condemn the decision by the Egyptian authorities to violently clear Tahrir Square on Monday 1 August, assaulting the families of the martyrs who had gathered there to demand justice, and their supporters who were backing their demands.

“We will not stand by and see the families of the martyrs and their supporters abused in this way, and we stand in solidarity with all Egyptians who are fighting to defend their rights to protest, strike and express themselves freely. These are precious gains of the revolution of 25 January, during which nearly 1,000 Egyptians sacrificed their lives.

“We call on the Supreme Military Council to cease its harassment of activists and citizens who exercise their basic human rights to question their rulers.

“We affirm our support for the statement below on the right to strike and protest in Egypt which was first issued in March following the Egyptian cabinet’s decision to criminalise protests and strikes, but which is now more urgent than ever.

“‘The Egyptian people showed immense courage in overthrowing the dictator Mubarak. They braved armoured cars and bullets in order to win freedom and social justice. We call on Egypt’s current military and civilian rulers to respect the Egyptian people’s democratic rights, including the right to protest and strike. We demand that the British government cease to provide assistance, arms or equipment to the Egyptian army and security forces which could be used to repress strikes and protests.
“‘We send our greetings to our brothers and sisters in Egypt and pledge that we will not stand by while their rights are under threat. We will mobilise whatever solidarity we can to support their struggle for political freedom and social justice.'”