Egyptian anger over phone-tapping

Egyptian opposition groups have expressed their anger over national security forces’ alleged use of phone-tapping to monitor protesters. Hisham el-Shal, a member of Egypt’s Second Revolution of Anger, claimed that police “permanently monitor” activists’ mobile phones in Tahrir Square, adding that on-the-ground surveillance was now a regular occurrence near the spiritual home of the January 25 Revolution. El-Masry party spokesman Mahmoud el-Taher blamed President Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood for undemocratic practices. “These measures undermine the personal freedoms the January 25 Revolution sought to achieve,” he said. Prominent Revolutionary Socialists member Mahmoud Ezzat meanwhile claimed Morsi had adopted “the same approach” as former President Hosni Mubarak, aiming to establish a “security state.” Ahmed Fawzy, Director General of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, also claimed that the revolution had achieved “no change,” pointing towards draconian security and violent suppression of demonstrations throughout January.