AFTE’s Newsletter : April 2021

Date : Saturday, 1 May, 2021
Facebook
Twitter

During the last month (April), the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) monitored the state and problems of freedom of thought and expression in Egypt. Through the activities of the various units, AFTE issued papers that take a deeper look at some of the issues of freedom of thought and expression currently raised, and also provided legal aid in cases related to freedom of thought and expression.

1. Publications:

– Publication of a paper entitled “We have something to hide!.. A paper on publication ban in cases involving accused officials in Egypt“, This paper has relied on the data and news about publication ban decisions, as well as the local laws that regulate publication ban and analyzes the use by the Public Prosecution and the investigating authorities of publication ban with a specific group of defendants, namely public officials.

– Publication of a paper entitled “Out of Coverage.. The Student Unions’ election in Egyptian Universities during a decade 2011-2020“, The paper tries to analyze the transformations that occurred in student union elections within Egyptian universities during the decade that followed the January 2011 revolution, through a reading of AFTE’s publications in the unit of Academic Freedom and Student rights, as well as some reports published in the media.

– Publication of a paper entitled “A censor outside the law .. On the Supreme Council for Media Regulation’s decision to interrogate the producers of Al-Tawoos TV series“, In this paper, AFTE explains its position towards the Supreme Council for Media Regulation’s (SCMR) decision to interrogate the producers of Al-Tawoos (peacock) TV series. AFTE tries to review the legal aspects related to the censorship of drama in light of the law regulating the SCMR’s work.

– Publication of The first quarterly report “Systematic violations, not allegations … The first quarterly report on the state of freedom of expression in Egypt (January-March 2021)“, presents and analyses some issues related to the right to freedom of expression. These issues display the state institutions’ attitude towards the right to freedom of expression and access to information, it also reviews and analyses the documented violations in accordance with AFTE’s monitoring and documentation standards

2. Statements:

– Publication of a statement entitled “EGYPT: 74 NGOS URGE EGYPTIAN AUTHORITIES TO RELEASE RESEARCHER AHMED SAMIR SANTAWY“, in that statement AFTE and 73 human rights organizations urge the Egyptian authorities to release the researcher “Ahmed Samir Santawy” immediately and to stop violating academic rights.

– Publication of a statement entitled “AFTE begins applying an anti-sexual violence policy“, in that statement AFTE announces that it starts applying an anti-sexual violence policy from “15 April 2021”. This comes after a series of discussions and interviews that an expert in gender issues conducted with AFTE staff over the past months. It also comes after reviewing similar policies issued by civil society organizations at both the national and international levels.

– Publication of a statement entitled “AFTE welcomes the court judgment canceling obligatory donations imposed on the travel of Cairo University academics“, in that statement AFTE triumphs its own achieve of canceling obligatory donations imposed on Cairo university academics.

Publication of a statement entitled “On World Press Freedom Day: Egyptian authorities should release imprisoned journalists and stop monopolizing media outlets“. In that statement, AFTE urges the Egyptian authorities to release imprisoned journalists and stop violating press freedom.

3. Legal Aid:

– Renewing the Detention of “Belal Abdel-Razek” and “Mohamed Soliman El-Masrey” for 45 Days

– Renewing the detention of four defendants for 45 days

– Renewing the Detention of “Hamed Sedeek” for 45 Days

– Renewing the detention of “Ahmed Hassanein Mohamed Moussa” for 45 days

– Renewing the Detention of Dr.” Ahmed AlTohamy AbdelHay” for 45 Days

– Renewing the Detention of Researcher “Ahmed Samir Santawy” For 15 Days

– Renewing the Detention of Quranist Blogger “Reda Abdel-Rahman Ali” for 45 Days

– Renewing the Detention of Lawyer “Amr Nohan” for 45 Days

– Renewing the Detention of “Ahmed Maher Ezzat” for 45 Days

– Renewing the detention of “Mohamed Al-Qassas” for 45 days

– Renewing the Detention of 4 Accusers of Case No. 751 of 2020, and Releasing 3 Others

– Renewing the Detention of Three Members of Al Destour Party in Sharqia for 45 days

– Renewing the Detention of “Khaled Mohamed Abdel Salam” and “Mahmoud Zakaria Elkhatib” for 45 days

– Renewing the Detention of Activist “Mahienour El-Massry” for 45 Days

– Renewing the Detention of “Esraa Abdel Fattah” for 45 days

– AFTE Files Lawsuit on behalf of “Walid Mohamed Hamid Aqlan” to Support the Decision to Designate his Residence as Place of Probation.

– Postponement of Appeal against the decision to form a specialized committee to nominate university, faculties, and institutions’ heads to review the report of the State Commission to respond and comment

– Releasing Al-Ahram institution Journalist and Former Head of Al-Dostour Party “Khaled Dawood

– Releasing Graphic Designer “Bassem Abd Al-Salam ElShahawy

– Dismissing the appeal against a student and rescission the decision to dismiss him from Cairo university

– The administrative court allows the appeal filed against obligatory donation imposed on the travel of Cairo University’s teaching staff

– Renewing the Detention of Activist “Mohamed Salah”, “Ahmed Fathy”, “Ahmed Yousry”, and “Khaled Elsayed” for 45 Days Pending Investigations

– Dismissing the appeal of detention order of Quranist blogger “Reda Abdel Rahman” and renewing his detention for 45 days

– Dismissing the appeal against the detention of “Mohamed Al-Qassas” and upholding his pretrial detention of 45 days

AFTE begins applying an anti-sexual violence policy

The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) announces that it starts applying the anti-sexual violence policy Thursday “15 April 2021”. This comes after a series of discussions and interviews that an expert in gender issues conducted with AFTE staff over the past months. It also comes after reviewing similar policies issued by civil society organizations at both the national and international levels.

As an independent civil society in Egypt includes human-rights and developmental organizations, as well as political parties, It witnessed the occurrence of some of these crimes therein or them being committed by persons working therein or belonging to it, and after proving its occurrence by investigation committees that were formed to hear complaints related to sexual violence in order to prove that these acts actually occurred.

In the same context, AFTE released its own anti-sexual violence and gender-based discrimination policy, AFTE’s administration reaffirms its commitment to implement this policy to end sexual violence crimes, hold perpetrators accountable, ensure a healthy work environment for all workers and ensure their physical and psychological wellbeing, raising awareness of these crimes, respecting personal space, ending the culture of impunity, and understanding gender issues and professional interaction.
To read the anti-sexual violence policy, Click Here

To subscribe to AFTE’s monthly newsletter

leave your email address below