 Dozens of journalists and activists on Saturday accused Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's ruling party and security apparatus of sending thugs to assault protesters and reporters — especially women — during a referendum on election reform.
| Comes as a surprise, huh? |
Women were beaten and sexually harassed during Wednesday's referendum, and some said they filed complaints with Egypt's Interior Minister and Cairo's police chief. Egypt's Information Ministry said late Saturday that it lamented two incidents in which reporters were hurt when they were caught between groups of fighting protesters. The ministry accused the protesters of trying to mar the balloting despite a ban on demonstrations. The Egyptian Organization for Human Rights said it filed a complaint with Egypt's Prosecutor-General Maher Abdel Wahed, asking him to hear testimony from reporters who said they were attacked while covering the protests. The group provided names of eight journalists it said had been attacked by security men, including a woman who said she was beaten up as police watched. The rights group is urging the prosecutor to bring the alleged culprits to court. |