AFTE’s Newsletter: June 2023

Date : Monday, 10 July, 2023
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In June, the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) monitored Egypt’s state and problems of freedom of expression. Through its various units’ activities, AFTE  signed several joint statements with other human rights organizations. These activities take a deeper look at the issues of freedom of expression currently raised and provided legal aid to prisoners of conscience.  
1. Statements

AFTE issued a statement condemning the continued enforced disappearance of the former deputy head of the Tanta University Students’ Union, Moaz Al-Sharqawy who has been forcibly disappeared by the Egyptian security services for 22 days, where his whereabouts have not been disclosed and his family and lawyers have not been allowed to communicate with him, which means that his life is in danger.

2. Joint Statements

 

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) submitted criminal complaint to the Public Prosecutor’s Office demanding investigation of the torture and sexual harassment of political prisoner Ahmed Abd Orabi, Orabi was subjected to these abuses during his transfer from Badr 1 to Badr 3 prison last month after he complained to the guards that his handcuffs were too tight. that Orabi reported the incident when he appeared in the subsequent detention renewal hearing, barefoot and with his head shaved.

AFTE and other human rights organizations condemned, in a joint statement, the blocking by the Egyptian authorities of two more news websites, namely Soulta 4 and Masr 360. The move coincides with the discussion of the right to access information during the ongoing national dialogue sessions. This raises great concerns about the seriousness of the Egyptian authorities regarding making information available on the one hand and the seriousness of the national dialogue on the other.

3. Legal Aid

 

– AFTE submits a report to the Public Prosecutor after poet Jalal Al-Behairi escalated his hunger strike and refraining from taking his heart and depression medications to a full hunger strike
–  Criminal Court renews the pretrial detention of Mohamed Abou Mandour for 45 days over Facebook posts about poor living conditions
– Criminal Court renewed the detention of Zamalek Football Club fan Mohamed Abdul Latif, known as “Agogo Amar,” for 45 days
– Criminal Court renewed the detention of Mohamed Abou El-Dahab and Ahmed Abo ElSoud Tawfiq, who have been detained for 7 months; for additional 45 days
– After being punished by being transferred to Badr 3 prison for opposing ill-treatment, Criminal Court renewed Ahmed Oraby’s detention for 45 days
– AFTE submits a report to the attorney general regarding academic Ahmed AlTomahy’s hunger strike
–  Administrative Judiciary Court adjourns to examine the two lawsuits demanding broadcasting of the sessions of the House of Representatives and the Senate on October 22
–  Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of two Al-Ahly football club fans, Ahmed Shaker Abou Elrous, and Ali Othman Ali, for 15 days
–  Criminal Court renewed the detention of poet Galal Al-Behairi, who’s been detained for 5 years, for 45 days
– Criminal Court renewed the detention of the human rights lawyer Ahmed Nazeer El-Helw for 45 days
–  Criminal Court renewed Ahmed AlTomahy’s detention for 45 days despite his hunger strike
–  Criminal Court renews Ahmed Moussa’s detention for 45 days despite exceeding maximum period of pretrial detention
–  Criminal Court renews the detention of two content creators, Ahmed Tarek and Basma Hegazy, for 45 days
– AFTE and EIPR submit a report to the attorney general regarding the assault and harassment of defendant Ahmed Oraby

4. Campaigns 

 

In conjunction with the start of the national dialogue sessions as a promising start for ending political and social violations, AFTE discusses some of the important human rights issues, which you can look into here 
 

 

AFTE launched a campaign demanding a presdential pardon for Badr Mohammed who’s arrested and convicted for being in the wrong place at the wrong time where his bad luck had led him to Alfagalla to buy school supplies, near Ramsis demonstrations at Masjid Alfath when he was only 17 years old!, you can access the campaign through this hashtag #FreeBadrMohammad

AFTE’s Participation in the National Dialog

 

The speech of the lawyer at the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, Mohab Saeed, at the national dialogue session to encourage interaction between the Egyptian academic group and its counterpart abroad.

 

The speech of the lawyer at the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, Ahmed Othman, at the national dialogue session to discuss the law of Freedom of Information Access, which AFTE  presented its initial draft
 

 

 

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