The repression of Muslims with unorthodox religious views continues in Egypt. Following the absurd ban on Sufi dhikr ceremonies a couple of weeks ago, there's news that nine followers of the Ahmadiyya sect have been held in jail for the last two months under Egypt's controversial "emergency" law.

A statement from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) said yesterday:

In the early hours of Monday, 15 March 2010, State Security Investigations (SSI) officers carried out an arrest campaign targeting members of the Ahmadi faith in the five governorates of Cairo, Qalyoubiya, Monufiya, Minya and Sohag. In the course of this campaign, nine individuals were detained and many books and computers were confiscated.

Four others were reportedly arrested by released after a few days.

The nine were held without charge for up to six weeks and then accused of "contempt for religion" – a vague charge that can be applied to all sorts of unconventional beliefs and behaviour. It was even used against some defendants in the notorious Queen Boat gay trial nine years ago.

Last Wednesday, state security officers also arrested the wife of one of the nine detainees. The next morning, she was brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecutor’s office, who also charged her with contempt for religion after questioning her about her religious beliefs and her affiliation with the Ahmadi sect.

“The use of the emergency law to detain citizens because of their religious affiliation blatantly contradicts government claims that the infamous law is used solely in crimes involving terrorism or drug trafficking,” said Adel Ramadan, the EIPR’s legal officer. “The government must immediately stop punishing people because they hold certain religious beliefs."

Posted by Brian Whitaker, 15 May 2010.