Egyptian security forces stand guard around the Coptic Catholic College of Theology and Humanities in the southern Cairo suburb of Maadi on April 29, 2017, during Pope Francis' visit to the country. Photo: Aly Fahim/ AFPCAIRO – Amnesty International urged Egyptian authorities on Tuesday to release 24 Nubian activists detained last week on charges of protesting without permission as they rallied for resettlement on the banks of the Nile river. "Instead of flagrantly flouting Nubians' rights to freedom of expression and assembly by continuing to detain them over their peaceful protest, the authorities must release these 24 activists from custody immediately." According to the statement, the activists had not marched far before they were surrounded and beaten by security officers. The activists' lawyer, Mohamed Abdel Salam, told Reuters last week they were also charged with incitement of protests and disrupting public safety.

Source: The North Africa Journal September 13, 2017 01:07 UTC