04 Mar 2011
Yesterday, 3 March 2011, Mohamed Khairat Al Shatar, the 60 year old businessman and leading figure in the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, was released from Tora Prison in Cairo. He had been sentenced to 7 years in prison in a grossly unfair trial before Cairo's Military court.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention had stated in September 2008 that the detention of Mr Al Shatter and those detained with him, was arbitrary and that they should be released. The government at the time refused to comply with this request, and he remained detained a further 2 and a half years.
At home with his family, Mohamed Al Shatar said this morning in a call with Alkarama's legal director, Rachid Mesli, "I am relieved that this period has come to an end, and I thank all those who have struggled for my release". Alkarama welcomes his release, and calls on the Egyptian authorities to abide by their international obligations and release all political prisoners in the country.