CAIRO: On Wednesday evening, a few dozen Egyptian poets joined leading opposition figure Ayman Nour in Bab el-Shaariya to inaugurate the artists’ commitment and solidarity with Nour’s “against succession” campaign he helped make manifest on October 14. However, the meeting and fanfare never came to fruition, as some 50 police officers stormed the gathering, causing havoc, eyewitnesses reported.

The equipment had been set up and the event was ready to begin and although it was not surrounded by the fanfare and media hoopla that the other event one week before, for Egyptians it was to be another testament that they can change.

“It was a moment for us to show we can be a part of something great,” said Dina, a local artist who was present for what was supposed to be the joining with Nour’s forces. Instead, she and others around her were attacked by Egyptian security forces.

The target appears to be Nour himself, as he was singled out by police and surrounded. His assistant, Ahmed Abdul Jawad, was arrested by police and hauled out of the meeting.

Nour confronted police and soon became the brunt of their attacks, confiscating his laptop computer and leaving.

“Nour had his computer taken and it is simply ridiculous,” said one activist who was present at the meeting.

Others present also had their electronic devices taken by police, who stormed off as quickly and suddenly as they stormed into the meeting.

“This is not acceptable. We will not tolerate storming into our licensed center and confiscating my own lap top. This is illegal,” Nour told Bikya Masr on Wednesday evening.

Around 9 p.m., Nour was went to the Bab el-Shaariya police station in an attempt to have his assistant released and his computer returned. He succeeded in getting Jawad released, but his computer remains in police possession.

According to Nour, the computer contains all the information that he and the “anti-succession” campaign had compiled. It includes all the television channel that the opposition leaders had launched.

Back in Bab el-Shaariya, the poets decided to go forth with their meeting. Prominent artists Samir Abdul Baki, Abdul Rahman Yussif and singer Ahmed Ismail led the declaration against Gamal Mubarak assuming power upon his father’s departure.

Nour’s night wasn’t over, however, as he issued a statement to media stating he will not remain silent over what he called opposition leaders dealings with the government.

“We are fed up with this and I will respond with a claim that I will file to the public prosecutor tomorrow morning,” Nour said.

He told Bikya Masr that he will reveal the “names and evidence of opposition figures involved with security forces in destroying the political life in Egypt.”

The move could see much internal anger, as Nour says the documents he will make public include “recordings and hand-writing of those opposition members” who have worked with the government.

**reporting by Dalia Ziada

BM

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