Egyptian army release 12 Palestinian political prisoners

[ 04/03/2011 - 12:41 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)-- Imad al-Sayyed, spokesman for the families of Palestinian political prisoners in Egyptian jails, said that the Egyptian army has released on Thursday morning 12 of those prisoners. In a special statement to PIC Sayyed said that the twelve prisoners were released from the notorious Aqrab prison and called on the ruling military council in Egypt to release the rest of the Palestinian political prisoners who remain in jail and who number more than 30. For its part, the Arab Organisation for Human Rights in UK (AOHRUK) thanked the military council in Egypt for the release of those prisoner, some of whom spent more than four  years in captivity. AOHRUK further said that there is still a large number of Palestinian political prisoners remain in Egyptian jails, stressing that there are at least 32 such prisoners and called on the ruling military council to clear the jails of those prisoners and indeed of all political prisoners as demanded by those who participated in the January 25 revolution. The organisation also thanked al-Jazeera satellite channel for the part it played in highlighting the plight of those political prisoners and their families which has paved the way for there release. The released prisoners arrived at the Rafah crossing on Thursday evening on their way to the Gaza Strip. --------------- Egypt releases 12 Palestinian detainees Published Thursday 03/03/2011 (updated) 04/03/2011 09:37 GAZA CITY (Ma’an) -- Egyptian authorities released 12 Palestinians from the Al-Aqrab prison on Thursday, a spokesman for the families of the detained said, adding that all were en route to the Rafah crossing. According to families in Gaza, who have been in touch with the prisoners, there are an additional 32 men who remain in Egyptian custody. Many were detained during the 2007 destruction of the Gaza-Egypt border wall, which saw Gaza residents flood into Egypt to purchase supplies after more than a year under a strict Israeli blockade. Others were detained at the Rafah border crossing, and some on allegations of criminal charges. Spokesman of the families of the released men Imad As-Sayyed, said it was not known when the men would return to Gaza, but said he had been assured that they were en route. The remaining cases, he added, had been taken up by a London-based rights group, which was seeking their release.