We the undersigned, oppose the wrongful arrest and detention of Esraa Abd ElFattah together with a group of Egyptian political activists and protesters on April 6-7, 2008 after an attempt at a national strike in protest to the rising food prices which has hit Egyptians in the last few months and stagnant wages.

Esraa was arrested together with ten others in a coffee shop in downtown Cairo ahead of Sunday’s demonstration. Although they intended to join the demonstration they never actually made it there.

Esraa and 20-30 other activists, including women, are being held along with a group prominent bloggers and an activist from the Textile Workers’ League. In Mahalla el Kubra, More than 300 protesters , were detained. Many of those in detention were young men or children. They have been ordered detained for fifteen days pending investigation on charges of conspiring to organize violent demonstrations and strikes.

If no positive steps are taken, the detainees may stand a trial with a big possibility to be sentenced for imprisonment.

We are demanding their immediate release and the reclamation of our people’s freedom of speech and expression.