EGYPT RELEASES FACEBOOK ACTIVISTS

UNCLAS CAIRO 001679 SIPDIS SENSITIVE NSC STAFF FOR PASCUAL E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PGOV KDEM EG SUBJECT: EGYPT RELEASES FACEBOOK ACTIVISTS REF: CAIRO 1581 1.(SBU) The fourteen members of the Facebook social networking group "6th of April Youth", arrested on July 23 (reftel),have all been released. On July 30, the GoE released eleven of the fourteen detained activists. The GoE released the remaining three over the next several days, with the final detainee released on August 2. While the Alexandria Court of Appeals ordered the release of the activists on July 27, the release was delayed for several days while the Public Prosecutor appealed the order, an appeal that was rejected. 2.(SBU) The activists were apparently released without charges, but the possibility remains that they could be charged in the future. We will continue to follow this case closely. SCOBEY