Court rejects Abd El Fattah appeal

A North Cairo court has rejected an appeal for Alaa Abd El Fattah, one of Egypt's most prominent activsts, to be released. Fattah was arrested on October 30 on charges of inciting violence against the military. Reports said he refused to recognise the legitimacy of his interrogators or answer their questions. Fattah was initially detained for 15 days but the period was later extended. His friends have stated that if he is not released today he will miss the birth of his first child. The charges related to a night of bloodshed on 9 October when violence erupted at a Coptic Christian protest in central Cairo. Abd El Fattah was among those who spoke out against the army's involvement in the violence, which was confirmed by multiple witness reports and video footage. He was subsequently summoned to Cairo's notorious C28, headquarters of the military prosecutors. In a secret letter from his prison cell, Abd El Fattah accused the country's military rulers of murder and of hijacking the revolution.