Civil Democratic Movement coalition calls for release of ex-diplomat and 6 others

The Civil Democratic Movement coalition called on Egyptian authorities yesterday to “immediately release” ex-diplomat Masoum Marzouk and six others who have been detained on alleged terror charges, the Associated Press reports. The group of opposition parties claimed the arrests “were part of the government crackdown to silence opposition voices.” Prosecutors had earlier this week ordered Marzouk’s 15-day detention, shortly after he had called for a referendum on President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.