Several activists and rights groups launched social media campaigns calling for the release of detained Egyptian-American Aya Hegazy, who on Monday marked her 900th day in pre-trial detention in Egypt. However, and after two and a half years in detention, Alaa said that the only hope they have now is the US government’s sustained pressure on the Egyptian authorities. Earlier in September, the White House called on Egypt to release Hegazy. The US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power called on Egypt to release Hegazy immediately after the latter spent 900 days in pre-trial detention. Hegazy’s detention is in violation of Egypt’s penal code, stipulating that the defendant should not exceed two years in pre-trial detention.

Source: Daily News Egypt October 18, 2016 12:11 UTC