A prominent Egyptian blogger said on Tuesday he had been arrested, the latest political activist to be detained in a widening crackdown on dissent by the army-backed government.

 

“I am now present in Basateen police station. I still don’t know the accusation against me or the reason for my arrest,” Ahmed Douma said on Twitter.

 

 

Egyptian authorities have launched a crackdown on Islamists, killing hundreds and arresting thousands since the army ousted President Mohamed Morsy of the Muslim Brotherhood in July.

 

The crackdown has now been extended to prominent political activists after liberals who backed Morsy’s overthrow have become more vocal against the military.

 

In a recent tweet referring to the detention of another activist, Douma described the government as "criminal" and said it would fall.

 

The state news agency said Douma was detained in connection with “violence” at a protest outside Abdine courthouse on Saturday where April 6 Movement leader Ahmed Maher, a symbol of the popular uprising that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak in 2011, turned himself in to authorities

 

An order was issued for Maher’s arrest for defying a new law restricting demonstrations. A security source told MENA that Maher was interrogated over clashes outside the Shura Council last week.

 

Under Morsy’s rule, Douma was detained over accusations of insulting the president in what activists called an example of the government using the courts to target its liberal and secular opponents. He was given a suspended sentence of six-month in prison and fined LE5000 bail after he was charged with insulting the president.

 

On Thursday, police arrested activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, also known for his role in the anti-Mubarak uprising.

 

The new protest law has deepened unrest in the most populous Arab state. It gives the Interior Ministry the right to ban any meeting of more than 10 people in a public place.