The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) shares with you the research papers, reports and statements issued over the past month, along with legal updates on cases in which AFTE provides legal support to prisoners of conscience, as well as academics who have faced harassment and security-related prosecutions for expressing their opinions.
We always welcome any inquiries or clarifications from everyone, through our social media platforms, or via the following email: [email protected]
Publications
“Continuous Discipline” monitors the state of freedom of expression in Egypt during 2025 through two main axes: the general context, which places events and developments within their political, legislative, and societal framework; and an analysis of violations, which identifies instances and patterns of repression and restrictions on rights and freedoms related to freedom of thought and expression in various fields. The report reveals a systematic and ongoing pattern of restricting freedom of expression and other fundamental rights in Egypt. Read the full report.
This paper analyzes the content of 400 official statements issued by Egypt’s Ministry of Interior on its Facebook page. It concludes that a significant proportion of interventions begin with monitoring content circulating on social media platforms, reflecting an expansion of digital surveillance to encompass citizens’ behavior. This raises critical issues concerning the right to privacy and the legal boundaries of security intervention. Read the full paper.
This paper focuses on the expansion of the Egyptian Public Prosecution’s use of “family values” as a justification for imposing publication bans in cases involving violence against women and girls. It traces the roots of the concept of “family values” in Egyptian legislation, beginning with its introduction in the Cybercrime Law, and discusses its impact in restricting public debate on sensitive issues, thereby violating citizens’ right to know and the freedom of the press. Read the full paper.
This paper highlights the transformations experienced by Egyptian universities since 2013, where traditional student activities have been curtailed by new policies and legislation. At the same time, Generation Z has emerged, relying heavily on technology and social media as primary tools for interaction and organization. The study focuses on understanding how students of this generation perceive the university today, to what extent they consider it a space for learning and participation, and what digital alternatives they develop for expression and collective action amid the decline of traditional student channels. Read the full paper.
Advocacy
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, along with other human rights organizations, signed a joint statement condemning the continued inclusion of human rights lawyer Mohamed El-Baqer on terrorist lists. The statement denounces the restrictions imposed on him, including a travel ban and the freezing of his assets, following a decision by the Criminal Court to extend his listing for another five years at the request of the Public Prosecution. Read more.
It also signed another statement in solidarity with doctor Omnia Sweidan, after she was arrested and referred to trial following the publication of her testimony about what she described as violations and violent practices faced by women inside the maternity wards of El-Shatby Hospital. Read more.
Legal Aid
In June, Ahmed Douma was sentenced to one year in prison. His appeal is scheduled for July 16. The trial of six other defendants, including poet Galal El-Behairy and journalist Khaled Mamdouh, was postponed, while the detention of nine defendants, including Sayed Mashaghab, was renewed.
– The Fifth Settlement Misdemeanor Court sentenced political activist Ahmed Douma to one year in prison with hard labor for an article he published. Following an appeal, the court reserved its verdict for July 16.
– The Cairo Criminal Court postponed the trial of poet Galal El-Behairy in his first case to August 23 and his trial in his second case to September 15.
– The Giza Misdemeanor Appeals Court renewed the detention of Sayed Ali Fahim Abu El-Maati, known as Sayed Moshagheb, and others for 45 days. Prominent human rights activists appealed to the President, the Attorney General, and the Minister of the Interior for Moshagheb’s release, especially after his suffering of more than eleven years in prison. Later, the court rejected the appeal filed by Moshagheb’s defense against the renewal of his detention and upheld the decision to continue his imprisonment.
– The Cairo Criminal Court postponed the trial of journalist and MBC Group presenter Khaled Mamdouh until September 14.- The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Khaled Mohamed Ali Mokhaimer, known as “Logy,” three times during June. It is worth noting that Logy is transgender and had begun the process of gender transition before his arrest.
– The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Mustafa Ahmed Ramadan, which has been ongoing for nearly four months, three times during June. Mustafa suffers from serious health problems, and his defense requested that he be examined by a doctor at his own expense.
– The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of lawyer Mohamed Ibrahim Suleiman, who was arrested for posts on his Facebook account discussing the political and economic situation.
– The Supreme State Security Prosecution also renewed the detention of pharmacist Sari Shaaban twice. Shaaban was included in the case based on posts on his personal page criticizing high prices and living conditions, as well as others related to the events in Gaza.
– The Criminal Court postponed the trial of Amr Khamis Abdel Qawi until April 19 to hear witnesses.- The prosecution also renewed the detention of worker Ahmed Ali El-Sayed on charges of spreading false news.
– The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Mohamed Saqr for 15 days based on Facebook posts he was confronted with by the prosecution.
-The Criminal Court renewed the detention of Mohamed Fathallah Rushdi Zayan, despite him having exceeded the maximum period for pretrial detention.
– The Supreme Administrative Court rejected the appeal filed by the Ministry of Higher Education against the ruling in favor of Dr. Manar Tantawi, which nullified and declared illegal the decision by the Ministry of Higher Education and the Higher Institute of Engineering to halt Tantawi’s promotion to the rank of professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at the institute.
– The Cairo Criminal Court postponed the trial of Dr. Ahmed Tohamy, an assistant professor at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Alexandria University, to September 14.
– The trial of a 61-year-old blacksmith on charges of terrorism and spreading false news was postponed to September 15.
