19 February 2024 sessions
Supreme State Security Prosecution
- The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Ahmed Husine Ahmed Abostit for 15 days pending lawsuit No. 2468 of 2023 (Supreme State Security).
Security forces arrested him on October 24, 2023, in Abdel Moneim Riad Square due to his participation in the demonstrations in support of Palestine on October 20.
It is worthy to note that the prosecution accused him of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes and participating in a gathering intended to harm public safety and order, changing the government system through force, and forcing a public employee to refrain from performing one of his duties through intimidation and violence. To accomplish a terrorist purpose, the defendant destroyed public and private property, both immovable and movable.
- The Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of Ali Mohmed Ali Abo ElMajd, a student in the fourth year of the Faculty of Sharia and Law at Al-Azhar University, for 15 days, in Case No. 2468 of 2023 (Supreme State Security).
Security forces arrested Abo ElMajd on October 21 of the last year, from his home in the Bulaq Al Dakrur area, due to his participation in the demonstrations in support of Palestine.
He remained detained in an unknown place to his family and lawyer until his presentation to the Supreme State Security Prosecution on the 28th of the same month, which proceeded with investigations with him and decided to detain him in pretrial detention for 15 days, pending investigations.
The prosecution charged Abo ElMajd with joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes and participating in a gathering intended to harm public safety and order, changing the government system through force, and forcing a public employee to refrain from performing one of his duties through intimidation and violence. To accomplish a terrorist purpose, the defendant destroyed public and private property, both immovable and movable.
- The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Omar Mohamed Mohamed ElDahma, a graphic designer, for 15 days, pending investigations in Case No. 2469 of 2023 (Supreme State Security ), after his participation in demonstrations of solidarity with Palestine on Friday, 13 October in Alexandria.
Security forces stopped ElDahma in front of his house in the Miami neighborhood in Alexandria. The prosecution charged him with joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and participating in a gathering that would put public peace in danger.
20 February 2024 sessions
Criminal Court
- The Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) renewed the detention of the contractor, Abdel Rahaman Alwany, for 45 days pending lawsuit No. 1635 of 2022 (Supreme State Security Prosecution), in which Alawny is accused of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news and information, and using social media to commit a crime.
Security forces arrested Alwany from his house on the 1st of November 2022, and was illegally detained for a week before being brought before the prosecution.
- The Cairo Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) decided to renew Mohamed Mahmoud Amer Abdel Aziz’s detention for 45 days, pending investigations of lawsuit No. 1984 of 2021 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).
Abdel Aziz was arrested on October 15, 2021, he was subjected to enforced disappearance for 45 days in an unknown location. The national security investigation report stated that Amer had participated in a media movement attributed to the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist group, the same investigation that a warrant for his arrest and summons was issued. Abdel Aziz faces accusations of joining a terrorist group.
Appeals Prosecution
The Cairo Appeals Prosecution decided to release journalist Lina Attalla, editor-in-chief of the Mada Masr website, on bail of 5,000 pounds, pending investigations in Case No. 22 of 2023, the Appeals Prosecution.
The prosecution accused Attalla of spreading false news and using a website without a license.
Investigations into the case began last November after a report was filed by the Supreme Media Council against the website, after publication a report that dealt with scenarios for the displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip.
At that time, the prosecution postponed the investigations into Attalla for an unspecific time, before summoning her again a few days ago, after the website published a report on businessman Ibrahim Al-Arjani’s control over the coordination of exit from the Rafah crossing and the entry of aid into Gaza.
Mada Masr had applied for a website license twice, in October 2018 and in August 2020. Still, she did not receive a response from the Supreme Media Council, which is responsible for issuing permits.
Last May, the Administrative Court rejected Mada Masr’s appeal against the decision of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation to refuse to license the website despite fulfilling the licensing conditions and applying for it more than four years ago.
Supreme State Security Prosecution
The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of Mahmoud Gamal Abo Sree, for 15 days pending investigations of lawsuit No. 508 of 2023 (Supreme State Security).
Security forces arrested Abo Sree On December 19, 2023, from Borg ElArab Airport while returning from abroad to spend a vacation with his family, he was brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on December 20, 2023, and was charged with joining a terrorist group while knowing its purposes, and publishing and broadcasting false news and information that would harm security and public order—and using an account on international information networks for publishing and posting false news and information.
It is also worth noting that he was not confronted with any seizures, nor was he confronted with any news or publications concerning him.
21 February 2024 sessions
Criminal Court
- The Cairo Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) renewed the detention of poet Galal Al-Behairi, for 45 days, pending investigations of lawsuit No. 2000 of 2021 (Supreme State Security Prosecution), which is the third lawsuit against Al-Behairi after his arrest for writing the song “Balaha,” which criticizes the policies of the current president.
During the session, Al-Behairi complained of jaw pain two years after he underwent jaw surgery inside his prison.
AFTE lawyers submitted a request to the court to bring him to the medical center in his prison, to examine and treat him.
It is worth noting that Al-Behairi had informed his family last month that the administration of the Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Badr 1 was deliberately harassing him by stripping his cell of his books, papers, and supplies.
Al-Behairi went on two hunger strikes during last year. He also attempted to commit suicide on 9 September, but his life was saved at the last minute. Beheiry’s suicide attempt came in protest against his prolonged detention without evidence or serious investigations. He has been held in pretrial detention for more than five years on charges repeatedly used to abuse prisoners of conscience, namely, joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes and spreading and broadcasting false news and statements that would harm public security.
- The Cairo Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) renewed the detention of Mohamed Abdel Aal Abou El-Dahab for 45 days, pending investigations of lawsuit No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
Security forces arrested Abou El-Dahab on November 10, 2022; he appeared before the prosecution five days later to face 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.
- The Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) renewed the detention of Ahmed Abdel Mageed Oraby for 45 days, pending investigations of lawsuit No. 2094 of 2022 (Supreme State Security), in which Oraby is accused over Facebook posts he shared discussing poor living conditions.
It should be noted that Oraby lost his eye in the clashes of Mohamed Mahmoud Street, and he was previously imprisoned for a year and a half. This time he was arrested in November 2022, and he faces accusations of joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes, committing a terrorist financing crime, inciting a terrorist act, participating in a criminal agreement for the purpose of committing a terrorist crime, spreading false news and statements, and using an account on social media to commit a crime.
