Egyptian-American
journalist Mona Eltahawy was arrested in Tahrir Square yesterday night, shortly after
her interview with the BBC in which she boldly stated: “People are determined
to get their defiance across to the Supreme Military Council, and tell them we
want nothing short of a civilian leadership for Egypt”. (Scroll down for link to
interview)
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| Mona Eltahawy |
Soon after
news of Eltahawy’s arrest came out, her Twitter account sent a tweet that said “Beaten
arrested in Interior Ministry”. The tweet was reportedly sent from the journalist’s
blackberry device while in prison.
Activists
and supporters of Eltahawy have started an online campaign on Twitter entitled #FreeMona.
According to the New York Times, the US Department of State was informed
of the journalist’s arrest.
Eltahawy was released this afternoon following 12 long hours in detention. Soon after her release, she tweeted "I AM FREE" and "12 hours with Interior Ministry security forces and military intelligence combined. Can barely type - must go xray arms after CSF beat me." The journalist also claimed that she was sexually harassed while in prison.
Eltahawy is
an award-winning journalist and public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues based in New York. She is a columnist for Canada's Toronto Star, Israel's Jerusalem
Report and Denmark's Politiken. Her opinion pieces have also been published in
The Washington Post and the International Herald Tribune.
Over the
years she has tackled critical issues such as media censorship and women’s
rights in Egypt and the Middle East.
Recent
developments in Cairo strongly demonstrate the Egyptian people's determination to continue protesting until they receive the civilian leadership they have been demanding for the past 8 months.
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| Egyptian women demanding an end to military rule and the establishment of a long-awaited civilian government (By Al Jazeera) |
Mona’s
interview with the BBC prior to her arrest can be viewed here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15864726
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15864726
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