Egypt sees biggest wave of arrests since Rabaa
Geneva-based Committee for Justice says 423 protesters detained during Monday’s rallies
By Rabia al-Sokkary
CAIRO
Egyptian authorities have detained more than 400 people during this week’s protests against the transfer of two Red Sea islands to Saudi Arabia, the biggest wave of arrests since 2013.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on Monday to protest a government decision to transfer the sovereignty of the Tiran and Sanafir islands to Saudi Arabia.
In a Tuesday statement, the Geneva-based Committee for Justice said 423 protesters were detained during Monday’s rallies.
“This is the highest number of arrests in one single day since the dispersal of the Rabaa sit-in,” the rights group said.
The NGO said Cairo and its twin city Giza registered the highest number of arrests.
Ahead of the protests, Egyptian security forces had detained scores of activists from homes and cafes in an attempt to quell the demonstrations.
Hundreds of supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi were killed in August 2013 when security forces violently cleared their sit-in at Cairo’s Rabaa al-Adawiya Square.
Security forces have also detained thousands of Morsi supporters in an attempt to quell unrest that followed the 2013 military coup.
