Ahmed Maher, co-founder of the 6 April Youth Movement, was arrested at Cairo Airport on Friday. He was returning to Egypt after a visit to the United States.
Khaled Al-Masry, media spokesman for the 6 April Youth Movement, confirmed the arrest of the revolutionary group’s leading figure, who was stopped at customs on his way into the country.
Maher was taken to the Nasr City prosecution on Friday afternoon. He was charged with inciting violence at a 6 April protest in March, when members of the group gathered outside the residence of Minister of Interior Mohamed Ibrahim and threw women’s undergarments at the building.
Four people were arrested and detained for their involvement in the demonstration, and were released last week after investigations.
Al-Masry said he believed the warrant for Maher’s arrest had been drawn up some time ago and that it was being implemented now for political reasons.
Maher had been in the US attending a conference in Washington, DC held by the New America Foundation. He participated in a panel on Egypt’s transition at the DC-based think-tank last week.
Following the arrest, the 6 April Youth Movement declared it would participate in an escalation of demonstrations calling for Maher’s release.
