Egyptian activists protest military rule

The hunger strike is calling for an end to all military trials for civilians and comes after the latest wave of violence by the military council against protesters earlier this month
in Abbasiya.

The violence led to the death of 20 and in the aftermath over 600 were arbitrarily arrested and subjected according to those released to violence and humiliation after their arrests. The hunger strike by leading journalists and activists which related events that took place in the journalists syndicate comes at the same time when Abbasiya detainees are starting a hunger strike in prison objecting to cruel treatment and against their referral to a military court rather than through a civil judiciary system.

In addition to the numbers of those on a hunger strike, others came and joined the scene in support of the Journalists syndicate and during mid day held a protest. Also activists sent telegrams to those in prison in a show of support to the prisoners.

Many here contend that the country's ruling junta which came to power following the ouster of Mubarak have mismanaged the transition and are making several attempts to consolidate its grip on power.

Since February 2011 over 12,000 civilians have been trailed and
currently serving time in the harsh conditions of military prisons.
From the groups that participated in the day's events are; Revolution Youth Coalition, the National coalition for Justice and Democracy, Revolutionary Socialists, Popular Social Front Party as well as the Salafi Front among many others.