Criminal Courts
April 10 hearings:
The Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed the detention of journalist Tawfiq Ghanem for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 238 of 2021 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
The 68 years old Ghanem suffered from several health problems which require his release, during the investigations, he wasn’t confronted with any evidence proving the accusations against him, he was instead interrogated about his journalistic work and political opinions. Ghanem completes his second year in prison within a few days without committing a crime. The Prosecution accused him of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and misusing social media to commit crimes.
The Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed Amr Abdel-Moneim’s detention for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 930 of 2019 (Supreme State Security), known in the media as “the Alliance of Hope Case” which included several political activists.
Security forces arrested Abdel-Moneim in 2019, and accused him of joining a terrorist group and spreading false news.
In violation of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed translator Marwa Arafa’s detention for 45 days pending investigations of case No. 570 of 2020 (Supreme State Security). As Arafa completes her third year in prison away from her family and daughter.
Security forces arrested Marwa from her house in Nasr City, and after two weeks, she appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution that accused her of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes and committing a financing crime for a terrorist purpose.
In another violation, the Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed Mohamed Ahmed Saad’s detention for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 930 of 2019 (Supreme State Security), Saad was arrested from Al-Azhar University in May 2019. He completes his fourth year in prison next month against accusations of joining a terrorist group, financing this group, spreading false news and information, and using a social media account to spread false news.
Because of a Facebook event; the Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed the detention of physical therapy student Anas Mahmoud Zahran, cooperation institute student Karim Mohamed Refaat, high school students Mazen Reda and Eslam Nagdy, for 45 days each, pending Case No. 440 of 2022.
The four students participated in promoting a parody event on social media titled “Batman Helwan”. They’re accused of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and inciting a terrorist act.
April 11 hearings:
After a year in pretrial detention, the Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed the detention of Tv presenter Hala Fahmy for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 441 of 2022 (Supreme State Security). The court ignored Fahmy’s complaints about being subjected to physical and verbal abuse in prison.
Security forces arrested Fahmy on April 24, after a period of security prosecution for expressing her political views. Fahmy faces accusations for joining a terrorist group, incitement to commit a terrorist crime, and spreading false news domestically and abroad.
The Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed the detention of the journalist at Al-Bawaba newspaper and the member of the Journalists Syndicate, Karim Ebrahim, for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 569 of 2020 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Ebrahim was illegally detained for six months after his arrest took place in April 2020, against the backdrop of the clashes in the Alamiria district; he faces accusations of joining a terrorist group.
The Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed Moataz Bellah Hasab Elnaby’s detention for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 965 of 2021 (Supreme State Security).
Security forces arrested Hasab Elnaby on July 12, 2021, against the grounds of several posts published on a Facebook account attributed to him; he faces accusations of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes, spreading false news and information that would harm security, public order, and the interests of citizens, and using a social media account to spread false news and statements.
The Criminal Court (Second Circuit) renewed Mohamed Abdel Aal Abou El-Dahab’s detention for 45 days, pending investigations of case No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
Abou El-Dahab faces accusations of 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.
Supreme State Security Prosecution
On April 10, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed Hamed Sedeek’s detention for 15 days pending investigations of his second case No. 2207 of 2021 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Sedeek was arrested on September 23, 2019, and is still in pretrial detention till now against charges of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news and information, and misusing social media.
