07.22.06
Egyptian Bloggers Freed After 56 Days
Reporters Without Borders stated that the last of the bloggers arrested in Egypt two months ago were released Thursday.
Mohamed al-Sharqawi and Karim El-Shaer were arrested during a demonstration outside the Cairo press union on May 25th. They were held in Tora prison, where they were often harassed by fellow inmates and tortured. The Arabist blog printed an English translation of a letter sent from al-Sharqawi while in Tora prison which documents his abuse. Human Rights Watch also issued a statement on Al-Sharqawi and fellow pro-democracy activists who were assaulted.
Six bloggers were arrested in May in a crackdown on pro-democracy activists who use the Internet to mobilize and communicate with other activists. Al-Sharqawi blogs at SpeaksFreely.
