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Fall-off in Egyptian protests as army stays silent on total killed or arrested Fall-off in Egyptian protests as army stays silent on total killed or arrested
(14 days later)
No one will say how many have died in Egypt. No one will reveal how many are in prison. There is no agreement on how many demonstrators turned out last Friday for the latest protest against last month's coup, in an atmosphere fraught with competing figures and misinformation.No one will say how many have died in Egypt. No one will reveal how many are in prison. There is no agreement on how many demonstrators turned out last Friday for the latest protest against last month's coup, in an atmosphere fraught with competing figures and misinformation.
A crackdown by the new military-backed government has decapitated the Muslim Brotherhood, the powerful Islamist organisation that ran this country for just over a year. As the police state is resurrected, authorities are walling off information on the number of deaths and detentions, and seeking to minimise what remains of the group's support.A crackdown by the new military-backed government has decapitated the Muslim Brotherhood, the powerful Islamist organisation that ran this country for just over a year. As the police state is resurrected, authorities are walling off information on the number of deaths and detentions, and seeking to minimise what remains of the group's support.
Last Friday thousands took to the streetsacross the nation in thinning marches in support of the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi. The health ministry said six people were killed and more than a dozen injured when clashes erupted between protesters and civilian opponents in some areas, and marchers and police in others. Security forces directed teargas and sporadic gunfire at protesters in central Cairo.Last Friday thousands took to the streetsacross the nation in thinning marches in support of the ousted president, Mohamed Morsi. The health ministry said six people were killed and more than a dozen injured when clashes erupted between protesters and civilian opponents in some areas, and marchers and police in others. Security forces directed teargas and sporadic gunfire at protesters in central Cairo.
But, in a sign of how state and private media have played down support for Morsi, Egyptian television networks mostly broadcast scenes of empty streets and quiet squares. The Muslim Brotherhood said one demonstrator was killed by police.But, in a sign of how state and private media have played down support for Morsi, Egyptian television networks mostly broadcast scenes of empty streets and quiet squares. The Muslim Brotherhood said one demonstrator was killed by police.
After weeks of protests against the coup, the government launched a full-fledged crackdown on 14 August, starting with raids on two pro-Morsi sit-ins that left hundreds of civilians dead. Security officials have arrested Muslim Brotherhood members every day since then, including the group's most prominent official still at liberty – Mohamed Beltagi – last Thursday. But the state has released only partial figures of arrests.After weeks of protests against the coup, the government launched a full-fledged crackdown on 14 August, starting with raids on two pro-Morsi sit-ins that left hundreds of civilians dead. Security officials have arrested Muslim Brotherhood members every day since then, including the group's most prominent official still at liberty – Mohamed Beltagi – last Thursday. But the state has released only partial figures of arrests.
The health ministry stopped publishing a total casualty count from the crackdown on 17 August "because of the huge number of deaths", according to one ministry official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. At that point, more than 900 people had been killed in four days, according to the official tally.The health ministry stopped publishing a total casualty count from the crackdown on 17 August "because of the huge number of deaths", according to one ministry official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media. At that point, more than 900 people had been killed in four days, according to the official tally.
When Egyptians are arrested, they typically face a hearing before a prosecutor within 48 hours to learn whether they will be detained pending possible trial, said Diana Eltahawy, an Egypt researcher for Amnesty International. Normally lawyers are allowed access to prosecutors' offices.When Egyptians are arrested, they typically face a hearing before a prosecutor within 48 hours to learn whether they will be detained pending possible trial, said Diana Eltahawy, an Egypt researcher for Amnesty International. Normally lawyers are allowed access to prosecutors' offices.
But since the coup the hearings for alleged Morsi supporters "are taking place inside the places of detention – police stations and prisons", as well as in riot police camps, Eltahawy said – and the numbers simply aren't getting out. Eltahawy said the number of detained has probably surpassed 1,000.But since the coup the hearings for alleged Morsi supporters "are taking place inside the places of detention – police stations and prisons", as well as in riot police camps, Eltahawy said – and the numbers simply aren't getting out. Eltahawy said the number of detained has probably surpassed 1,000.
Another activist, Ahmed Mehrif, who directs a Switzerland-based Arab rights group, put the number closer to 2,000. And a western diplomat, who spoke on the usual condition of anonymity, said it could range from 3,000 to 8,000, most of them "rank and file" members of the Muslim Brotherhood, or Morsi supporters unaffiliated with the Islamist group.Another activist, Ahmed Mehrif, who directs a Switzerland-based Arab rights group, put the number closer to 2,000. And a western diplomat, who spoke on the usual condition of anonymity, said it could range from 3,000 to 8,000, most of them "rank and file" members of the Muslim Brotherhood, or Morsi supporters unaffiliated with the Islamist group.
In cities and towns across Egypt, police have burst into private homes in a dramatic effort to lock up Brotherhood officials. The scenes are reminiscent of the reign of the former autocrat Hosni Mubarak, when the Muslim Brotherhood was a banned opposition group. But the current crackdown on Egypt's Islamists is even harsher than in that era. Rights activists and lawyers say the detainees are also picked up at protest marches, or grabbed by vigilantes operating in neighbourhood "popular committees" who hand them to security forces.In cities and towns across Egypt, police have burst into private homes in a dramatic effort to lock up Brotherhood officials. The scenes are reminiscent of the reign of the former autocrat Hosni Mubarak, when the Muslim Brotherhood was a banned opposition group. But the current crackdown on Egypt's Islamists is even harsher than in that era. Rights activists and lawyers say the detainees are also picked up at protest marches, or grabbed by vigilantes operating in neighbourhood "popular committees" who hand them to security forces.
One plainclothes police officer explained last week: "If we see someone suspicious, we look at their paperwork." He spoke as he patted down a pedestrian in downtown Cairo, before rifling through the man's wallet. If the "paperwork is normal", the people are allowed to continue on their way, he said. If not, they are taken into custody. "We make a judgment based on how he looks," the officer said of the men he stops.One plainclothes police officer explained last week: "If we see someone suspicious, we look at their paperwork." He spoke as he patted down a pedestrian in downtown Cairo, before rifling through the man's wallet. If the "paperwork is normal", the people are allowed to continue on their way, he said. If not, they are taken into custody. "We make a judgment based on how he looks," the officer said of the men he stops.
General Hani Abdel Latif, the interior ministry spokesman, said last week that his forces had arrested 213 Brotherhood leaders since 14 August. That total did not include lower-ranking members. The government has also, in recent days, brought charges against some of Egypt's most prominent liberal activists for speaking out against police brutality and military rule.General Hani Abdel Latif, the interior ministry spokesman, said last week that his forces had arrested 213 Brotherhood leaders since 14 August. That total did not include lower-ranking members. The government has also, in recent days, brought charges against some of Egypt's most prominent liberal activists for speaking out against police brutality and military rule.
Egypt's cabinet is now the only body authorised to issue comprehensive death and injury tolls, health officials said. But it has yet to do so. Cabinet spokespersons did not respond to multiple queries for updated figures.Egypt's cabinet is now the only body authorised to issue comprehensive death and injury tolls, health officials said. But it has yet to do so. Cabinet spokespersons did not respond to multiple queries for updated figures.
At the health ministry, an adviser to the minister grew agitated last week when pressed for the number of people killed since security forces raided the pro-Morsi protest camps. "I do not have any numbers at all," said Mohamed Fathallah, after also saying that he had provided the cabinet with the latest figures last Saturday. "Stop pushing," he said. In another corner of the ministry, an official quietly voiced his opposition to the government's behaviour. "You won't find any co-operation at the health ministry," he mumbled, after struggling to dig up numbers. "A failure of a government."At the health ministry, an adviser to the minister grew agitated last week when pressed for the number of people killed since security forces raided the pro-Morsi protest camps. "I do not have any numbers at all," said Mohamed Fathallah, after also saying that he had provided the cabinet with the latest figures last Saturday. "Stop pushing," he said. In another corner of the ministry, an official quietly voiced his opposition to the government's behaviour. "You won't find any co-operation at the health ministry," he mumbled, after struggling to dig up numbers. "A failure of a government."
London-based Amnesty International published a tally last month based on mortuary reports that put the death toll since 14 August at nearly 1,100 nationwide. The Brotherhood had said more than 2,000 people were killed on 14 August alone.London-based Amnesty International published a tally last month based on mortuary reports that put the death toll since 14 August at nearly 1,100 nationwide. The Brotherhood had said more than 2,000 people were killed on 14 August alone.
"The Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of the deposed president tend to inflate numbers quite a lot," said Eltahawy. And on the government side, "there is clearly a desire, especially since the dispersal of the protests, to show that the casualty toll was not that high," she added. "So in terms of getting accurate information, it is extremely difficult.""The Muslim Brotherhood and supporters of the deposed president tend to inflate numbers quite a lot," said Eltahawy. And on the government side, "there is clearly a desire, especially since the dispersal of the protests, to show that the casualty toll was not that high," she added. "So in terms of getting accurate information, it is extremely difficult."
But the state is more forthcoming about certain figures. In his darkened office at the interior ministry, Abdel Latif, the spokesman, sat before a stack of papers that contained up-to-the-minute data on police casualties in clashes or revenge attacks. "Since 14 August, there have been 106 martyrs and 915 injured," he said, before breaking the numbers down by "officers", "conscripts" and "recruits". Local media reported that a police officer and a civilian were shot dead early last Friday in an attack on a Cairo police position, the second in three days.But the state is more forthcoming about certain figures. In his darkened office at the interior ministry, Abdel Latif, the spokesman, sat before a stack of papers that contained up-to-the-minute data on police casualties in clashes or revenge attacks. "Since 14 August, there have been 106 martyrs and 915 injured," he said, before breaking the numbers down by "officers", "conscripts" and "recruits". Local media reported that a police officer and a civilian were shot dead early last Friday in an attack on a Cairo police position, the second in three days.
On walls and street signs across Cairo's Nasr City district, former home to the sit-ins, signs of the anti-coup fervour have been swiftly and methodically covered up. Swatches of red and beige paint cover the phrases "Morsi is my president" and "Down with military rule".On walls and street signs across Cairo's Nasr City district, former home to the sit-ins, signs of the anti-coup fervour have been swiftly and methodically covered up. Swatches of red and beige paint cover the phrases "Morsi is my president" and "Down with military rule".
Pockets of hundreds of protesters moved through Cairo last Friday, chanting "revolution, revolution", and holding the four-fingered symbol of their former sit-in outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. The pro-Morsi Anti-Coup Alliance has claimed that "tens of millions" of protesters have turned out across the nation, but there has been no evidence of such numbers.Pockets of hundreds of protesters moved through Cairo last Friday, chanting "revolution, revolution", and holding the four-fingered symbol of their former sit-in outside the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque. The pro-Morsi Anti-Coup Alliance has claimed that "tens of millions" of protesters have turned out across the nation, but there has been no evidence of such numbers.
Last Friday's crowds were small by the standards of Egypt's recent protests, and security forces had locked down the squares, thoroughfares and even mosques associated with unrest.Last Friday's crowds were small by the standards of Egypt's recent protests, and security forces had locked down the squares, thoroughfares and even mosques associated with unrest.
This article appeared in Guardian Weekly, which incorporates material from the Washington PostThis article appeared in Guardian Weekly, which incorporates material from the Washington Post
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