The East Cairo prosecution renewed on Tuesday the detention of five members of the satirical band Street Children for 15 days pending investigations.
The music group is being charged with publishing offensive videos and inciting demonstrations.
Members Mohamed Adel, Mohamed Abdel Megeed, Mostafa Ahmed, Mohamed Yehia, and Mohamed Desouky will remain in remand after they were arrested on 9 May.
Another member of the band, Ezz El-Din Khaled, was arrested a day prior to the other band members’ arrest. Unlike the others, he was released two days after his arrest.
Street Children gained fame online for the group’s satirical videos posted on Facebook about ongoing political events and leaders, namely President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi.
According to rights lawyer Tarek Al-Awady, who attended investigations with the band members, the prosecution also charges band members with co-founding a group that aims to topple the regime and spread false news that harms public interest and incites the toppling of the regime.
He said they were questioned during investigations about one of their videos in which they mocked the maritime demarcation agreement that saw sovereignty of Sanafir and Tiran islands transferred to Saudi Arabia.
Another lawsuit was filed against the band accusing them of religious contempt. The plaintiff, a lawyer named Tarek Mahmoud, demanded prompt investigation into the band’s six members for allegedly insulting Islam in their videos. He further demanded that they be referred to court and banned from travelling outside Egypt.
On 7 January, the band published their first online video that mocked the way religious figures host their talk shows that are broadcast over radio stations.
