By Mai Shams El-Din
CAIRO: Law professor at the American University in Cairo Amr El-Shalakany was arrested two days ago and will be tried in a military court in Suez, according to rights activist and a member of “No for Military Trials for Civilians” campaign, Mona Saif,
El- Shalakany faces a possible sentence of 15 years in prison for “insulting the supreme military council” and causing riots and burning a police station.
Hailing from a family of prominent lawyers, El-Shalakany has not yet been officially charged. He was arrested when he attempted to drive in a restricted area near Neama Bay in Sharm El-Shiekh, one of Egypt’s top beach resorts in South Sinai.
He allegedly exchanged verbal insults with the military officers who tried to stop him.
Initially he was to be released Friday when the detaining officers suddenly decided to transfer him to Suez for a trial under martial law.
“We assume that he would not set fire in a police station, and would calculate his actions in this context, as someone who is very aware of Egyptian law,” said Saif.
El-Shalakany’s lawyer could not be reached for comment by press time.
