A prominent Egyptian activist was summoned on Monday for questioning by the country’s military rulers over comments criticizing their human rights record.
Hossam el-Hamalawy, 33, said he was ordered to appear before military prosecutors yesterday after he charged that the head of the military police was responsible for reported abuses against activists. He spoke on a popular TV program on a private station. He said the TV presenter, Reem Maged, was also summoned for questioning.
“I have been expecting this for a long time,” el-Hamalawy said.
Egypt’s governing Armed Forces Supreme Council has been coming under increasing pressure from the protest movement and political groups for its management of the transitional period following the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak on Feb. 11.
Critics say the military has been slow to introduce radical reforms to uproot former regime officials and has often put civilians on military trial.
Reformers also criticize the military council’s reaction to criticism. Two journalists and a potential presidential candidate have been summoned for interrogation for comments about the military.
A large rally, named “Egypt’s second revolution,” was organized on Friday, primarily to push the military to heed the demands of the protesters. A day before the rally, el-Hamalawy appeared with Maged on the TV program called Our country in our own words, where he leveled his charges against the new rulers.
“Just like Hosni Mubarak didn’t go down to the streets and shoot the protesters himself, but we are trying him today on charges of killing the revolutionaries, Major General Hamdy Badeen is responsible for the military police, which is responsible for violations,” he said.
He also called for public trials of Mubarak and former regime officials.
Gamal Eid, a human rights lawyer, said journalist Nabil Sharaf el-Din was also summoned for questioning yesterday.
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