(DNE File Photo)
A Cairo court accepted on Monday the prosecutor general’s appeal against the release of Ultras White Knights (UWK) members, according to a Monday statement by the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE).
The arrested members are to stay in jail pending a retrial on 24 September. The prosecution accused the defendants of hooliganism, blocking roads, and protesting without permission.
The defendants were arrested from a protest in solidarity with their fellow fans who were arrested in Cairo’s Rod Al-Farag neighbourhood on 19 August.
An UWK member, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that this is the fourth time a similar decision has been made, with no evidence.
The member added that Mortada Mansour, Zamalek Football Club’s President, “is behind such decision due to his contacts” in the legal circles.
The ultras group is not planning to organise any further protests as the main aim is to free the arrested members, the member added. “We don’t want to have more members go to prison.”
Mansour accused the group of attempting to assassinate him on 17 August. After the alleged assassination attempt, Egyptian security forces arrested around 11 group members from their homes.
Mansour filed an urgent lawsuit calling for the group to be banned.
The Cairo Court of Urgent Matters is to issue a verdict on dissolving the group and proclaiming in a terrorist group on 27 September.
Additional reporting by Joel Gulhane
