Egypt- Disappearance, persecution of public transportation bus drivers draws controversy
Date
9/28/2016 1:08:59 AM
(MENAFN- Daily News Egypt) A driver named Ali Metwally was detained on Sunday by unknown individuals, according to his colleagues in the Public Transportation Authority (PTA) who accused the National Security apparatus of arresting him without a prosecution warrant.
Metwally was a former driver in the authority but is active in the labour circles around the workers. He was one of the leading figures, calling for a strike if the demands presented by the drivers are not met.
The drivers told Daily News Egypt that Metwally was arrested at dawn from his home
He declared his solidarity with the six labour leaders who were arrested at the beginning of the week. The prosecution ordered the detention of Tarek Moustafa, Tarek Al-Beihry, Ayman Mahmoud, Mohamed Soliman, Mohamed Awadallah, and Ahmed Mahmoud for another 15 days. They are charged with inciting colleagues to strike.
Several parties and labour movements condemned the arrest and disappearance of the workers calling on the officials to release them and on the prosecution to investigate the fact that the workers were detained without a warrant.
The families of the detained workers will hold a press conference to address the cases of their relatives.
The Egyptian state has been countering any sort of dissent or strikes, arguing that any kind of disruption to public order affects the developments in the country. Currently, under Egyptian law, protesters can face jail time if they demonstrate in the street, while workers are subjected to both jail time and forced early retirement if they strike.
Pro-state media are also following the state rhetoric demonising any strikes by labelling participants as 'terrorists from the Brotherhood group'.
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