Egypt political heavyweights come out against April 6 ban

The electoral campaign of Egypt's presidential hopeful Hamdeen Sabahi spoke out against a Monday court verdict banning the activities of the prominent April 6 protest movement.

In a statement, the campaign warned against "using the judiciary as a tool of repression to serve political interests."

An Egyptian court on Monday banned the activities of the April 6 protest movement and ordered the confiscation of its offices across Egypt, on charges of tarnishing the country's reputation and spying for other countries.

Sabahi's campaign said that Monday's verdict was "dangerous" and that it aims to restrict freedom of assembly.

"[The verdict] serves as a continuation of practices which portend the return of the repressive state, undermining the January 25 revolution," the campaign said.

On Tuesday the April 6 Movement announced that it would appeal against the ban, also declaring that the court’s decision proves that the group is “on the correct revolutionary path”.

Zizou Abdu, an April 6 member, also used a press conference on Tuesday to suggest that they might dissolve the April 6 Movement as it stands now, only to replace it with an April 5 or April 7 Movement.

Wednesday will see supporters of the youth-based group, which was at the forefront of the 2011 protests that toppled Hosni Mubarak, demonstrate against the ban and demand the immediate release of all those detained for political expression.

The verdict against the April 6 youth group drew condemnation from other protest movements and parties, which have become increasingly critical of the country's military-backed government following last July's ouster of president Mohamed Morsi.

A student group affiliated with the centrist Strong Egypt Party also announced that "this verdict is politically-driven at its essence and it aims at silencing the voice of January 25 [revolution]".

"The old ways of repression are useless in the face of a generation that has tasted freedom," said the group’s statement, which declared "full solidarity" with the April 6 group.

Before the 2011 uprising, the movement campaigned against the policies of the ex-president and his now-dissolved National Democratic Party.

The Dustour Party also announced its “shock” at Monday’s ruling, questioning the legal basis for such a ruling.

The April 6 movement now has 14 days in which to launch its appeal.

It can also submit a request to suspend the implementation of the ruling until the appeal is considered.

Ahmed Maher, a founder member of the April 6 Movement, is currently serving a three-year jail term for staging an unlicensed protest in November last year.