During the previous month of March, 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 closed door.. A paper on membership as an entry point for independent artistic syndicates in Egypt which analysis contained in this paper is based on research and gathering of news, data, and statements related to syndicates. It relied on the policies of the current artistic syndicates in Egypt, as well as the violations committed against creative people which AFTE has documented.
Publication of report entitled “Open Jails”.. How are cases being adapted against those accused of free speech? (Case No. 65 of 2021 as a model). The report relied on the analysis of the general practices of the security and judicial authorities towards the citizens’ right to freedom of peaceful expression. It monitored and analyzed the violations committed against the arrested defendants and those referred to the State Security Prosecution, especially in connection with Case No. 65 of 2021.
2. Statements:
AFTE issued the following statements during March:
– Statement Release Manar to join her child after a family was abducted by security forces from their home in Alexandria. The family included the father Omar Abdel Hamid Abu Elnaga, the mother Manar Adel Abu Elnaga, 27 years, assistant lecturer in Mathematics, Tanta university, Gharbia governorate and their 1-year-old baby El Bara’a Omar Abdel Hamid Abu El Naga. For 23 months nothing was heard or known of their whereabouts.
– Statement Egypt: Archaic Amendments to Personal Status Law Undermine Women’s Rights where AFTE rejects the government’s draft of the Personal Status Law, presented before Egypt’s House of Representatives pending approval.
– Statement Egypt: Rights groups welcome international declaration urging Cairo to end rights violations and repression of civil society where AFTE welcome the joint declaration signed by the governments of 31 states at the United Nations that condemned the deteriorating human rights situation in Egypt, and the fierce attack launched by the Egyptian government on human rights organizations and human rights defenders.
– Joint press release | Egypt: Rights groups demand immediate release of activist Sanaa Seif demanding for the immediate release of Seif and all prisoners of conscience, and for an immediate investigation with her attackers.
3. Legal Aid:
– Renewing the detention of “Marwa Arafa” for 45 days
– Renewing the detention of “Belal Abdel Razek” and “Mohamed Gaber Soliman El-Masry” for 45 days
– Renewing the detention of Ahmed Maher Ezzat for 45 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of Loay Mazhar, Ahmed Samy Shuaib, and Saad Walid Saad, for 45 days pending investigations.
– Renewing the detention of Hamed Sedeek for 45 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of lawyer Amr Nohan for 45 days pending investigations
– Renewing the detention of Mahienour ElMasry for 45 days pending investigations
– Releasing “Atef Hasaballah” Editor in Chief of “Alkarar Press website”
– Renewing the detention of dentist “Walid Shawky” for 45 days pending investigation
– Renewing the detention of “Alaa Essam” for 45 days pending investigations.
– renew the detention of the researcher “Ahmed Samir Santawy” for 15 days pending investigations
– Allowing the Appeal of Student “Gamal Abdel-Hakim Farahat” to Amend a 5-year Heavy Prison Sentence to a 5-year Imprisonment
– Renewing the Detention of 4 Accusers on 20 September 2020 Events for 45 Days Pending Investigations
– Replacing Pretrial Detention with Precautionary Measures for Journalist “Mostafa Sakr”
– Renewing the detention of “Mohamed Oxygen” and “Sameh Ramadan Saudi” for 45 Days
– Renewing the Detention of Activist “Mohamed Salah”, “Ahmed Fathy”, “Ahmed Yousry”, and “Khaled Elsayed” for 45 Days Pending Investigations
