Cablegate: Egypt Releases Facebook Activists

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHEG #1679 2171401
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 041401Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY CAIRO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0138
INFO RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC

UNCLAS CAIRO 001679

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

NSC STAFF FOR PASCUAL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM EG
SUBJECT: EGYPT RELEASES FACEBOOK ACTIVISTS

REF: CAIRO 1581

1.(SBU) The fourteen members of the Facebook social
networking group "6th of April Youth", arrested on July 23
(reftel), have all been released. On July 30, the GoE
released eleven of the fourteen detained activists. The GoE
released the remaining three over the next several days, with
the final detainee released on August 2. While the
Alexandria Court of Appeals ordered the release of the
activists on July 27, the release was delayed for several
days while the Public Prosecutor appealed the order, an
appeal that was rejected.

2.(SBU) The activists were apparently released without
charges, but the possibility remains that they could be
charged in the future. We will continue to follow this case
closely.
SCOBEY

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