During the previous month, the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) monitored the state and problems of freedom of thought and expression in Egypt. Through its various units’ activities, AFTE issued statements that take a deeper look at some of the issues of freedom of thought and expression currently raised and provided legal aid in cases related to freedom of thoughts and expression.
1. Publications:
Publication of paper entitled “A Continued Isolation… The Annual Report on The State of Freedom of Expression in Egypt in 2020” in this report AFTE reviews the state of digital rights, media freedom, creativity, academic freedom, and student rights during the pandemic, highlighting the features of withholding information and how the pandemic has turned into another pretext for violating rights and freedoms.
2. Statements:
AFTE issued the following statement during February:
Publication of a statement entitled “AFTE Urges the Ministry of Interior to an Urgent Release of the Researcher “Ahmed Samir” and Revealing his Whereabouts” In the statement AFTE calls on the Ministry of Interior of Egypt to release Ahmed Samir Santawy, the researcher who has been arbitrarily detained after voluntarily going to the police station in the Fifth Settlement district in Cairo on the 1st of February 2021 upon an earlier request from police officials to attend there.
Publication of a statement entitled “Egypt: Enforced disappearance of lawyer Islam Salama condemned by rights organizations amid calls on the Ministry of Interior to implement his release” In the statement AFTE is concerned by the Egyptian government’s constant abuse of lawyer Islam Salama, who has been forcibly disappeared for the third consecutive time, following earlier verdicts by criminal courts in Cairo and Mahalla ordering his release. The organizations hold the Egyptian government authorities responsible for his health and life.
Publication of a statement entitled “Egypt: State authorities must be held to account for violence perpetrated against detained journalist Solafa Magdy” In the statement AFTE and 5 independent human rights institutions call on the Public Prosecutor to urgently open credible investigations into the physical assaults, acts of harassment, and abuse against journalist Solafa Magdy by police and staff at Qanater women’s prison, where she is detained.
Publication of a statement entitled “Egypt: Release Ahmed Samir Santawy and end crackdown on researchers” In the statement AFTE and 7 independent human rights institutions call on the Public Prosecution to release Ahmed Samir Santawy, a master’s researcher at the Central European University (CEU) in Austria, given that the investigations concerning him are not based on solid evidence. The organizations stress the need for the Public Prosecution to assume its role in investigating Santawy’s disappearance and the fact that he was beaten by National Security Agency officers.
3. Legal Aid:
– Renewing the detention of graphic designer “Bassem Abd al-Salam ElShahawy” for 45 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of “Atef Hasballah”, editor-in-chief of the Alkarar Press website for 45 days
– Renewing the detention “Ahmed Mohammad Abu Khalil” for 45 days
– Renewing the detention of dentist “Waleed Ahmed Shawky” for 45 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of Doctor “Ahmed AlTomahy AbdelHay” for 45 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of researcher “Ahmed Samir Santawy” for 15 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of publisher and journalist “Mostafa Sakr” for 45 days
– Renewing the detention of “Marwa Arafa” for 45 days pending investigations
A Fact-Finding Committee reports on sexual assaults and administrative violations at AFTE
The Advisory Board of Trustees of the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) welcomed the final report issued by the independent fact-finding committee on sexual assaults and administrative violations at AFTE.
The Board, which accepted all the Committee’s recommendations, believes that their implementation provides the first steps to end all forms of violence and discrimination against women at AFTE.
The Board, which was formed in mid-2018, regrets all violations that had taken place at AFTE and apologizes on behalf of the organization to all staff members and volunteers who may have been affected by those transgressions, and is committed to supervising the implementation of all recommendations made by the fact-finding committee.
The committee has been granted all necessary powers to investigate allegations and complaints it received and issue recommendations regarding all forms of violations committed by AFTE staff during their work. In addition to measures against specific violations, the recommendations addressed policies, rules and practical principles that AFTE should put in place in order to prevent the recurrence of such violations and guarantee a safer and fairer work environment for women.
The Board expressed its deep gratitude to the committee members, namely Farida Elkalagy, Michael Raouf and Salma Ell-Naqqash.
