Supreme State Security Prosecution
January 1 hearings:
The Supreme State Security Prosecution released three defendants in connection with case No. 440 of 2022 (Supreme State Security). The defendants are Mohamed Ragab Abdel Maged and the two brothers, Ahmed Ashry and Asharaf Ashry.
On July 12, 2022, Ahmed and Asharaf Ashry were arrested after posting a video on TikTok simulating a scene from a TV series. The defendants faced charges of joining a terrorist group and spreading false news.
In a similar context, the Supreme State Security Prosecution released Ahmed Badawy Abdel Magid under the guarantee of his place of residence in connection with case No. 746 of 2019 (Supreme State Security).
Abdel Magid faced charges of joining a banned group and using a social media account to commit a crime that threatened the security and safety of society against the backdrop of holding a banner to call on citizens to vote no to the constitutional amendments.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of worker Mohamed Raafat Nasr for 15 days in connection with case No. 1977 of 2022 (Supreme State Security). Nasr could not be transferred from his prison cell to the Court to attend the hearing was not possible.
Nasr was arrested on November 2, 2022; he was illegally detained for 5 days and faces charges of joining a terrorist group, committing the crime of financing terrorism, using social media to call for a terrorist act, participating in a criminal agreement intended to commit a terrorist crime, incitement to commit a terrorist crime, publishing and spreading false news and information.
In the same context, the Supreme State Security Prosecution also decided to renew the detention of lawyer Ahmed Nazeer El-Helw for 15 days in connection with case No. 1940 of 2022 (Supreme State Security Prosecution). El-Helw couldn’t attend his detention hearing as it wasn’t possible to transfer him from his prison cell.
A security force arrested El-Helw on November 7, 2022, from his house in the 5th settlement, based on a detention order issued by the Public Prosecution; he was detained in an unknown location till he appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on November 13, which in turn, charged him with joining a terrorist group.
January 3 hearings:
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of activist Sherif El-Rouby for 15 days in connection with his third case, No. 1634 of 2022 (State Security).
El-Rouby was listed in this case only after less than three months of his release, pending another case due to his expression of the suffering of former political prisoners in establishing a normal life after their release. El-Rouby faces charges of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and misusing social media.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of the 40 years old Mohamed Mahmoud Abou Mandour for 15 days in connection with case No. 2216 of 2022 (State Security).
Abou Mandour was tortured by handcuffing his hands behind him and getting electric shocks during his enforced disappearance period of 13 days. Against the backdrop of several posts from his Facebook profile expressing his political views and mocking the current situation, Abou Mandour faces charges of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, committing a crime of financing terrorism, inciting to commit a terrorist act, spreading false news and information that would disturb public peace and order, using an account on social media to commit a terrorist crime.
Similarly, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of the visual artist and member of the visual artist’s syndicate, Amir Abdel Ghani, for 15 days in connection with investigations of case No. 1635 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
The prosecution confronted Abdel Ghani with nine posts from his Facebook profile dated a few years back regarding price hikes, which were the reason for his arrest. Abdel Ghani faces charges of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, spreading false news and statements that would harm public peace and order, and using a social media account to spread false news and information.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed Momtaz Ahmed Lotfy’s detention for 15 days in connection with case No. 1539 of 2022 (State Security), where Lotfy is convicted for posting a video regarding Gamasa Prison fire.
Security forces arrested Lotfy on August 21 from his house in Zagazig, and he faces charges of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and misusing social media.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of four defendants for 15 days in connection with case No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security). The four defendants are Ziad Abo El-Fadl, Khaled Abdel Mohsen, Mohamed Abou Elaal Abou Eldahab, and Ahmed Abou Elsoud Tawfiq.
Security forces arrested Abo El-Fadl and Abdel Mohsen on November 11. The four are charged with joining a terrorist group, committing the crime of financing terrorism, using social media to promote a terrorist act, participating in a criminal agreement to commit a terrorist crime (demonstrations), inciting to commit a terrorist crime (demonstrations), and spreading false news and statements.
On January 4, Alexandria Criminal Court (the Council Chamber) released Moaaz Rizk under the guarantee of his place of residence pending case No. 6777 of 2022 (Borg El-Arab Administrative). The prosecution later decided to appeal the decision and to be examined before another Court Circuit on the following day, which decided to accept the Prosecution’s appeal and detain Rizk for 15 days.
Police force arrested Rizk on November 2 after he was stopped at a Police checkpoint in Alexandria, where his phone was searched. He faces charges of joining a terrorist group and possessing publications that promote its ideas.
On January 5, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Ahmed Abdel Mageed Oraby for 15 days in connection with case No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
The Supreme State Security Prosecution confronted Oraby with 15 posts expressing his political opinions. Notably, Oraby was detained for a year and a half pending the case known in the media as “Al-Ittihadiya Palace events,” he also lost his left eye in the clashes on Mohamed Mahmoud street, and now faces charges of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, committing the crime of financing terrorism, inciting to commit a terrorist crime, participating in the criminal agreement to commit a terrorist crime, spreading false news and information, and using an account on the Internet to commit a terrorist crime.
Criminal Courts
On January 3, the Criminal Court (the Council Chamber) renewed Mohamed Mahfouz Abdul Latif’s detention for 45 days in connection with case No. 2000 of 2021 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Security forces arrested Abdul Latif in August 2021 from his workplace in Fagala district. He faces charges of joining a terrorist group (Ultras White Knights), publishing false news and information, and using social media to spread false information.
