Cairo: Human rights secretary general released

The Egyptian supreme court ordered the release of Egyptian Human Rights Organization Secretary General Hafez Abu Saada, imprisoned on Tuesday on charges of accepting an amount of $25,000 from British parties to prepare a report which alleged that Coptic Christens were tortured by police in Egypt and for publishing information with the aim of carrying out acts that are harmful to Egypt, at a bail of 500 pounds.

The sentence attached to these charges varies between 7 and 15 years with hard labor.

The deputy chief of the organization, Yasser Hassan told ArabicNews.com that this new decision is in the interest of Abu Saada and confirms the legal strength of the organization. Hassan added that a delegation from the European Human Rights Federation arrived in Cairo two days ago to defend Abu Saada.

The source added that the court ordered the arrest of the lawyer from the Egyptian Human Rights Organization, Mustafa Zeidan, "as soon as possible." Zeidan is one of the main persons who prepared the report of the organization which accuses the Egyptian police of committing acts of violence against the Copts.

On Thursday, the Egyptian Human Rights Organization decided to "freeze" its activities in objection to the arrest of Abu Saada. Abu Saada's wife, Nuhad Abu al-Qumsan said on Sunday, " We expect the measures to release him will take time," adding that he would be freed today.