{"id":39625,"date":"2025-02-05T10:57:35","date_gmt":"2025-02-05T08:57:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/afteegypt.org\/?p=39625"},"modified":"2025-02-05T13:10:54","modified_gmt":"2025-02-05T11:10:54","slug":"aftes-newsletter-january-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/afteegypt.org\/en\/advocacy-en\/monthly-newsletter-en\/2025\/02\/05\/39625-afteegypt.html","title":{"rendered":"AFTE\u2019s Newsletter: January 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) shares with you the statements it issued over the past month, the joint statements it signed, the campaigns it launched, in addition to the legal updates of lawsuits in which AFTE provides legal support to prisoners of conscience or to academics who were subjected to abuse and security prosecutions for expressing their opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n

We always welcome any inquiries or clarifications from everyone through our social media platforms or via the following email: <\/span>info@afteegypt.org<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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statements\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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AFTE condemned the General Egyptian Book Organization\u2019s (GEBO) decision to ban ElMaraya for Culture and Arts from participating in the 2025 Cairo International Book Fair, without giving any reason. The move reflects the continuation of the intensive security and censorship targeting of ElMaraya over the recent years with the aim of hindering it from exercising its cultural role. <\/span>More<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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AFTE condemned the detention of writer and journalist Ahmed Serag in connection with a new opinion case, on the usual charges of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and using a website to promote terrorism. Serag was detained for performing his journalistic work. AFTE called on the Public Prosecutor to quickly release him, drop the charges levelled against him, stop the crackdown on journalists, lift restrictions on press freedom, and protect journalists instead of targeting and detaining them. <\/span>More<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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AFTE reiterated its rejection of the draft criminal procedure law, which the House of Representatives continues to discuss after approving 61 articles without introducing any substantive amendments. <\/span>More<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Joint statements\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

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28 human rights organizations have voiced serious concerns regarding the disappearance of journalist and poet <\/span>Abdulrahman Youssef Al-Qaradawi<\/span> since January 8, 2025. His whereabouts remain unknown following his boarding of a private flight to Abu Dhabi, in compliance with a decision by the Lebanese Council of Ministers to deport him to the UAE based on a claim filed by the Emirati Public Prosecutor. <\/span>More<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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10 human rights organizations have condemned the decisions of Egypt\u2019s Supreme State Security Prosecution to refer hundreds of detainees\u2014some held for over six years\u2014to terrorism courts instead of releasing them. This move is seen as an attempt to cover up severe human rights violations, including arbitrary detention and flawed investigations in politically motivated cases. <\/span>More<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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7 Egyptian human rights organizations have strongly condemned the remarks made by former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday, January 26, 2025. Trump suggested relocating more than one million Palestinians from Gaza to other countries, including Egypt and Jordan. The organizations described his statements as dangerous, violating international laws, inciting ethnic cleansing and war crimes, and reinforcing the U.S. as a partner in Israel\u2019s crimes in Gaza. More<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Legal Aid<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n