Prosecutor General refers report accusing well known activists Asmaa Mahfouz and Esraa Abdel-Fattah of espionage to Supreme State Security Prosecution.
Egypt`s General Prosecutor, Hesham Barakat, has asked the Supreme State Security Prosecution to investigate a report filed against political activists Asmaa Mahfouz and Esraa Abd El-Fattah, accusing them of espionage.
General Manager of the youth and sports sector of Gharbiya`s Nile Delta governorate, Abd El-Aziz Fahmi, filed a report with the General Prosecutor accusing Mahfouz and Abd El-Fattah of spying activities for foreign bodies. He also requested the court consider putting them under a travel ban.
In the report, Fahmi suggested media records "show that they have received funds from abroad.’`
Mahfouz and Abd El-Fattah were former leading members of the April 6 Youth Movement.
Under the interim leadership of the Supreme Council of Armed Forces (SCAF) from February 2011 to June 2012, April 6 was accused of seeking to "create strife between the army and the people." In addition, Major General Hassan El-Roweiny said the group received funding from abroad and has been working on behalf of foreign interests.
In May 2013, April 6 founder Ahmed Maher was ordered to be detained for four days upon arrival at Cairo Airport from Vienna, following a political trip to the United States. He was accused of inciting protests. However, he was released the following day.
[This article originally appeared on Ahram Online.]