US Representative Don Beyer called for the immediate release of Aya Hegazy, detained in connection with the case against the Belady Foundation for Street Children. Egyptian-American Hegazy has been in pre-trial detention for over two years. They searched the office without a warrant from the prosecution, arrested Hegazy, her husband Mohamed Hassanein and six others. The congressman also discussed the broader crackdown on NGOs, journalists, academics, artists, and human rights organizations in Egyptian civil society, the statement said. Aya should be free.”According to the statement, Beyer has been involved in Hegazy’s case, and raised the matter several times with US Secretary of State John Kerry and the State Department.

Source: Egypt Independent September 16, 2016 10:01 UTC