Egyptian journalists join anti-protest law hunger strike

A group of Egyptian journalists announced starting a temporary hunger strike Saturday against the country's controversial protest law.
Many activists and detainees have embarked on a hunger strike lately against the law, which they deem too restrictive and that has been used to arrest and imprison hundreds since it was passed in November 2013, Ahram Online reported.
A group of 15 journalists said in a statement that they would start a sit-in at the Press Syndicate and go on hunger strike until Monday, calling on fellow journalists to join in.
"We begin this battle because we believe that freedom of expression through protesting or writing, or any peaceful method, is an established right," the statement said.
On Friday, seven political parties announced they would go on a "symbolic" temporary hunger strike in their offices nationwide, in solidarity with hunger strikers in prison, who amount to 66 people.
Several families, activists and supporters have also joined the initiative, demanding the release of all detainees in prison in what they describe as "cases that involve freedom of opinion." They also demanded amending the protest law.
The law bans protests without prior police authorization and gives security forces the right to bar any public gathering of more than 10 people.