During 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 and reports 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.
Statements
AFTE issued the following statement in March:
Statement On International Women’s Day: President Sisi should pardon female Tik Tok content creators where AFTE calls on President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to pardon the female Tik Tok content creators who have been handed prison sentences on charges related to freedom of expression, in a campaign launched by the Public Prosecution under the pretext of preserving the morals and values of the Egyptian family. The jail terms issued against those women ranged from two to ten years.
Joint Statement Egypt: Execution of seven people following unfair trials further exposes hollowness of state’s claims to new human rights strategy where human rights organizations condemn the execution of seven people in Egypt on 8 and 10 March 2022, following trials in which the defendants were forcibly disappeared, tortured, and denied their fundamental rights
Joint Statement Civil society organizations call on Egyptian authorities to drop the case of researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy and release him immediately coinciding with his second retrial session before the Egyptian Emergency State Security Court after the same court sentenced to a four year prison sentence last year.
Joint Statement Egypt: Atrocious prison conditions require genuine rather than superficial changes to the law regulating prisons after prisoners witnessed an unprecedented deterioration over the past eight years which includes frequent illegal reprisals, deliberate medical neglect, torture and ill-treatment, and denial of exercise and visitation.
Legal Aid
– Hearing of lawsuit demanding to allow Omar Mohamed Ali to remotely resume his studies adjourned to April 3
– Criminal Court renews the precautionary measures of Mohamed Galal and Mokhtar Huessien for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews the detention of lawyer Mohamed Ramadan for 45 days pending his third case.
– Despite going on a hunger strike; Criminal Court renews Ahmed Maher Ezzat’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Marwa Arafa’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Mohamed Salah’s detention for 45 days and releases Ahmed Yousry Ghaly
– Despite exceeding two years in pretrial detention; Criminal Court renews Alaa Essam’s and Amr Abdel-Moneim’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Sameh Saudi’s detention for 45 days pending his third case
– Criminal Court renews Kholoud Saied Amer’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Mohamed Mamdouh Abdel Halim’s detention for 45 days pending his second case
– Criminal Court renews Journalist Tawfiq Ghanem’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Journalist Amer Abdel-Moneim’s detention for 45 days, despite the deterioration of his health conditions
– Hearing of lawsuit demanding to allow Ahmed Doma to remotely resume his studies adjourned to March 27
– State Commissioners authority withhold the appeal against the refusal to assign Hagar Ismael to Cairo University for reporting
– Doctor Hossam Elden Shaaban Released
– Criminal Court renews journalist Rabea Elsheikh’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews the detention of Ayman Abdel Moaty and Dr. Waleed Shawky for 45 days
– Despite exceeding two years in pretrial detention; Criminal Court renews lawyer Amr Nohan’s detention for 45 days
– Despite suffering from leukemia; Criminal Court renews lawyer Mohamed Elsayed Abdel-Fatah’s detention for 45 days
– The Prosecution renews the detention of Omar Mahmoud Al-Hout for 15 days
– Criminal Court renews Ahmed El-Toukhy’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Mostafa Gamal’s detention for 45 days in connection with his third case
– AFTE files reports on Ahmed Maher Ezzat’s assault incident
– Mohamed Galal and Mokhtar Hussein released &their Precautionary measures annulled
– Criminal Court sets the date of Haneen Hossam’s lawsuit on human trafficking for adjudication to April 18
– Kafr Saqr Misdemeanour Court acquits Attia Shehata Elsayed
– Court of Cassation sets April 27 session to examine AFTE and Ahmed Ragheb law firm’s appeal against the verdict against Sherry Hanem and Zomoroda
– Hearing of Moka Hegazy’s appeal against verdict of 3 years in prison adjourned to April 5
– Disciplinary hearing of Dr. Manar Al-Tantawy adjourned to April 5
– Criminal Court renews lawyer Mohamed Ramadan’s detention for 45 days pending his third case
– Criminal Court renews Ahmed Hassanein Mohamed Moussa’s detention for 45 days
– Despite exceeding three years in pretrial detention; Criminal Court renews Belal Abdel Razek’s detention for 45 days
– Despite exceeding two years in pretrial detention; Criminal Court renews Hamed Sedeek’s detention for 45 days
– Court of Appeal to adjudicate Mawaddah al-Adham’s appeal against verdict to fine her 300,000 Egyptian pounds on April 13
– Criminal Court renews Dr. Ahmed Al-Tohamy’s detention for 45 days
– AFTE files a report to the Public Prosecutor regarding Ahmed Doma’s hunger strike
– Criminal Court sentenced Ayman Mansour Nada to suspended one year in prison and a fine of 100,000 pounds.
– Hearing of lawsuit demanding to allow Omar Mohamed Ali to remotely resume his studies online adjourned to April 27
– Criminal Court renews Ahmed Abu Khalil’s detention for 45 days
– Criminal Court renews Sherif El-Rouby’s detention for 45 days
