European Parliament urges release of Egyptian blogger

(STRASBOURG) - The European Parliament called Thursday for the immediate release of an Egyptian blogger while voicing concern over the prosecution of civilians by military courts.

In a resolution, MEPs condemned the "judicial harassment" of activist Alaa Abdel Fatah, who after being jailed under the Mubarak regime was last October remanded and accused of inciting violence during a demonstration by Coptic Christians in Cairo.

"Furthermore, the emergency law should be ended without delay," the resolution added.

Parliament noted that according to rights organisations, more than 12,000 civilians have been tried before military tribunals since March 2011 in Egypt.