By Mona SalemEgypt on Sunday freed six activists including journalist Esraa Abdel-Fattah, a symbol of the 2011 revolution, just days after Washington warned Cairo over a crackdown on rights activists. Analysts said the latest releases were aimed at easing international pressure over Egypt’s human rights record. All had been in pre-trial detention on charges including spreading “fake news” and cooperating “with terrorists” or “illegal groups”. Washington warningEgypt has come under harsh criticism over its human rights record, including from the United Nations and United States. In March, 31 countries staged a rare oral rebuke of Egypt at the UN Human Rights Council, expressing alarm over its use of anti-terrorism laws against government critics.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 18, 2021 22:07 UTC