Prominent Egyptian Celebrities Launch Campaign Of Solidarity With Detained Street Children Troupe

Comedian Bassem Youssef and actors Amr Waked and Khaled Abol Naga, as well as popular puppet character Abla Fahita, are among artists who posted selfies with their phone cameras on Facebook and Twitter as part of the social media campaign 'Freedom for Street Children' that intends to condemn the arrest of a member of street performing group Awlad al-Shawarea who is still being held at Cairo's Sayeda Zeinab police station since Monday, reported Al Ahram.

With many taking selfies and asking “Does This Camera Phone Scare You,” the social media users have demanded the release of the arrested Street Children troupe members. The six-member performance group gained popularity among youth for their videos that mock societal norms, as well as the discourse of government officials and supporters. Their last video was another satirical piece titled Sisi Is My President, according to Al Ahram.

As per Ahram, the campaign follows the 15-day detention of four members of the satirical troupe pending investigation. The street performance troupe was accused of using YouTube to call for “terrorist crimes.” Moreover, the members are also being investigated for allegedly "inciting protests that aim to disrupt peace and security and cause violent crimes against state institutions."