Wael, a computer scientist and the father of a seven-year-old, ascended to prominence, following the outbreak of the Palestinian uprising against the Israeli occupation, as one of the best organizers with the Egyptian Popular Committee for the Solidarity with the Palestinian Initfada. The Committee was launched in 2000, as an initiative by several 1970s lefties, but was soon to turn into a mass organization, with university students flocking to its ranks, and with the help of tireless campaigners like Wael. The committee played a crucial role in reviving street politics in Egypt once again after the 1990s suffocating decade. A charismatic leader, Wael drew respect from the movement’s youths and elders, from Islamists and liberals, and was popular with the press community in Cairo.
Wael went on to become one of the leading figures in the anti-war movement, and helped launching other initiatives like AGEG, took active role in founding 20th of March Movement for Change, and other umbrella groups, which was to help with creating the political climate in which Kefaya mushroomed later.
Wael is currently in Mahkoum Tora prison, after State Security police agents arrested him in a pro-democracy demo on 27 April.
we all hope that wael get back soon . he really was a good model to us, and still of course.
May I respectfully ask why this man would be arrested for protesting the war? This is something that I do not understand. I was under the impression that there was more freedom in Egypt than this but I certainly don’t understand the politics against protesting the war.
He wasn’t arrested for protesting the war, it was a pro-democracy / anti-regime protest. Those kinds of things do not go well down with Mubarak & Co.
[…] I was just on the phone with Ahmad Seif al-Islam, director of the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and father of detained blogger 3alaa. He said all non-Muslim Brothers detainees, numbering 20 (I’m working to check the exact figure) are to be released, including Kamal Khalil, Gamal 3abdel Fattah, Wael Khalil, Ibrahim el-Sahary, by a unexpected order from the State Security Prosecutor today. Karim el-Sha3er and Mohamed el-Sharqawi were given another 15 days. They, together with 3alaa el-Kashef (an activist from 3arish), were the only activists referred today to the State Security Prosecutor, who decided only to release the latter, and renew the detention of the first two. The rest of the activists are to be released directly, sometime tomorrow from Luman Tora and Mazra3et Tora prisons. 3alaa Seif al-Islam, whose release was ordered today, is still in Tora Prison as of the moment. His friends have expressed concern his release could be stalled. […]
[…] Ibrahim el-Sahary, detained socialist journalist, called me five minutes ago. He’s free! Cheerful! He said he and the rest were taken from Tora Prison to State Security Giza premise (Gaber Ibn Hayyan) few hours ago, before all were released, including Wael Khalil, Kamal Khalil, and the rest. […]
[…] Around 300 activists demonstrated Tuesday evening in front of the press syndicate, calling for the release of pro-democracy detainees. The demonstrators included several of the recently released detainees, who showed up dressed in the white prison costumes they wore in Tora. The scene was beautiful. Released activists who haven’t seen one another since they got out of prison were hugging, and in tears. Others were recalling their prison stories, and exchanging jokes and laughters. Veteran socialist Kamal Khalil, and his colleagues Wael Khalil and Ibrahim el-Sahary got the lionshare of hugs and kisses. They led the demonstrators, in chants against Mubarak, and against State Security police. Central Security Forces surrounded the syndicate. The usual support brigades of baton-wielding plainclothes thugs were also present, together with few officers from State Security’s CounterCommunism’s Bureau. However, no hassels were witnessed, and one could get into the syndicate easily. The one-hour protest was followed by a conference, organized by the Liberties’ Committee. Several released detainees took the poduim, and shared their experiences with their supporters. Kamal Khalil denounced any talks between the opposition and Mubarak’s National Democratic Party, called for the release of Dr. Ayman Nour, Sharqawi, Sha3er, and the 700+ Muslim Brothers detainees. Kamal also condemned the US support for Mubarak and Israel, affirming that the movement for change in Egypt sees its democracy cause to be organically linked to other regional causes, most importantly Palestine and Iraq. Kamal also expressed his sorrow for the loss of his mentors and colleagues, Ahmad Nabil el-Hilaly, Youssef Darwish and Ahmad 3abdallah Rozza, who passed away while he was in prison. “Rest in peace,” he said to his lost comrades. “I want to assure Hilaly the socialist movement has been revived. The Communists in Egypt are only getting stronger day by day. You taught us a lot, and we will not fail you.” I went out later with 3alaa, Manal, and Malek to a friend’s place where we were supposed to party. Unfortunately, after two hours of laughters, singing and dancing, we were showered with SMSs about the Israeli invasion of Gaza. We lost the mood for partying, and decided to go home and follow Al-Jazeera. Israeli tanks, as I write now, are rolling into north and south of the strip. Israeli F-16s have bombed two bridges in Gaza’s central zone. Gaza is now in darkness as Israeli jets shelled the only electric power station Gaza has. I tried calling a good friend of mine who lives there, but couldn’t get through to his cellular. My thoughts go out to him and all the Palestinians in Gaza… […]