AFTE’s Newsletter May 2021

Date : Tuesday, 1 June, 2021
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During the last month (May), 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 Invisible presence” on regulations of censorship within the national center for translation, This paper is based upon information obtained through 11 interviews conducted by the Association’s researchers, including 9 interviews with translators who currently work with the National Center for Translation.

2. Statements: 

– Publication of a statement entitled “#First7Steps Before talking about a “breakthrough” in the situation of rights and freedoms in Egypt“, where Five leading Egyptian human rights organizations announced a list of seven necessary, clear, and urgent measures to stop the unprecedented erosion of human rights that Egypt has witnessed over the past years.

– Publication of a statement entitled On World Press Freedom Day: Egyptian authorities should release imprisoned journalists and stop monopolizing media outlets, where AFTE renews its urge to the Egyptian authorities to stop violating freedom of expression.

– Publication of a statement entitled Human rights organizations condemn medical neglect of human rights lawyer Muhammad Ramadan in Tora Prison and demand his release, where 9 human rights organizations call for the provision of health care to lawyer Muhammad Ramadan after his health condition has been continuously deteriorating.

– Publication of a statement entitled “The sowing of souls continues: Organizations condemning the execution of the death sentence against the monk Isaiah al-Maqari, ignoring requests for a pardon, and an investigation into his torture in order to make him confess

– Publication of a statement entitled Egyptian rights groups demand an end to the Israeli attacks and apartheid, where 9 human rights organizations demand to stop the international injustice towards Palestine.

– Publication of a statement entitled Human rights organizations call on Egyptian authorities to stop trials of TikTok content creators and to guarantee freedom of expression, After 11 defendants were referred to trial for posting content on TikTok and Likee, 15 human rights organizations call for their release.

– Publication of a statement entitled AFTE calls on the Public Prosecutor to release journalist Amer Abdel-Moneim, and urges the Journalists Syndicate to intervene immediately to enable him to receive healthcare After his health condition has deteriorated and he has not received the necessary healthcare.

– Publication of a statement entitled For the second time, the Egyptian authorities ban researcher Waleed Salem from traveling after the Public Prosecutor added him the travel ban list where 7 human rights organizations call on Public Prosecutor Hamada al-Sawy to remove Salem’s name from the travel ban list and enable him to travel to the United States to continue his study. They also call on the Egyptian authorities to put an end to the unjustified restrictions they impose on Salem.

– Publication of a statement entitled Egypt: Human Rights Organizations Condemn the Rotation of Ahmed Samir Santawy in a New Case and Call for Releasing Him, After being recycled in a new case, 5 human rights organizations call for his release.

3. Legal Aid: 

– Referring Researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy to Speedy Trial on Charges of Spreading False News From Abroad About the Domestic Situation
– Renewing the Detention of “Hamed Sedeek” for 45 Days
– Renewing the Detention of Dr.” Ahmed AlTohamy AbdelHay” 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 Activist “Mahienour El-Massry” for 45 Days
– Renewing the Detention of “Esraa Abdel Fattah” for 45 days
– Releasing “Khaled Mohamed Abdel Salam” With Precautionary Measures
– Scheduling the First Session of Two Lawsuit Filed Demanding Broadcasting the Sessions of the House of Representatives and the Senate on Television and Digital Platforms
– Renewing the Detention of “Sherif El-Rouby” for 45 Days Pending Investigations
– Scheduling the First Session of Lawsuit Filed on Behalf of “Walid Mohamed Hamid Aqlan” to Uphold the Decision of Designating his Residence as Place of Probation.
– Renewing the Detention of 2 defendants in case No. 751 of 2020 and releasing 2 others with precautionary measures
– Postponement of the hearing on the renewal of the detention of activist Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Fathy, and Ahmed Yousry
– Releasing “Omar Morsy” on bail
– Renewing the Detention of Dentist “Waleed Shawky” for 45 Days
– Replacing Pretrial Detention with Precautionary Measures for “Tarek Youssef
– Renewing the detention of “Ahmed Hassanein Mohamed Moussa” for 45 days Pending Investigations.
– Renewing the Detention of Four Members of Al Destour Party in Sharqia for 45 days
– Replacing Pretrial Detention with Precautionary Measures for “Khaled Elsayed Elbadawy
– Renewing the detention of four defendants for 45 days pending case No. 1956 of 2019
– Releasing “Ahmed Mohamed Ali” with Precautionary Measures
– Releasing Islam Ahmed Samak under the guarantee of his place of residence
– Renewing the detention of “Islam Ali Muhammed” for 45 days pending investigations
– AFTE submits a request to provide necessary health care to lawyer “Muhammad Ramadan
– Renewing the detention of “Ahmed Mohammad Abu Khalil” for 45 days pending investigations.
– Renewing the Detention of “Ayman Mahmoud Abdel-Halim” and “Kholoud Saied Amer” for 45 Days Pending Investigations.
– Renewing the Detention of “Mostafa Mohamed Safwat” for 45 Days Pending Investigations.
– Renewing the Detention of “Marwa Arafa” for 45 Days Pending Investigations

Tiktok Trials

AFTE launched a campaign that provides basic information and analysis of the TikTok trials. It includes the profiles of the defendants, the legislative context of their cases, analysis of the public prosecution’s statement, the role of the companies that own the applications used by the defendants and reading in the case papers.

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