Peace activists from dozens of countries across the world gathering in Cairo to take part in the March To Gaza have reported that Egyptian undercover police have been following people, and we have been sent footage of the CSF (the Egyptian paramilitary Central Security Force) beating people with whips and sticks.
At the muster point for the march, riot police kettled activists, and demanded papers and passports. Many foreigners have been detained and are being deported. This repressive clampdown is aimed at disrupting what is an international call for a peaceful and symbolic breach of the criminal and genocidal food and medical blockade inflicted on Palestinians by the Israeli Occupying Force.
Organisers claim that the convoy’s route had been co-ordinated by activists at multiple Egyptian embassies since mid-March, but the Egyptian authorities are now claiming that because the area around the Rafah crossing is a volatile military zone, they retain the right to control access to it.
Among those being deported is the father of one of the #Filton18 political prisoners being held on remand in the UK, Fatema Zainab Rajwani, whose inspirational poetry we featured here.
Solidarity marches are starting all over London tomorrow, 15th June, converging for a protest outside Downing Street at 3pm.
