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After over 5 Months of Legal Neglect, Court of Appeal to Begin Omar El-Dahma’s Trial on June 7

After over 5 Months of Legal Neglect, Court of Appeal to Begin Omar El-Dahma’s Trial on June 7

Publish Date : Monday, 23 October, 2023

Last Update : Monday, 11 May, 2026

10 May 2026

The Cairo Court of Appeal has set June 7 as the date to begin proceedings in the trial of Omar Mohamed Mohamed El-Dahma, scheduled to be held before the Second Circuit of the Criminal Court at Badr City Reform and Rehabilitation Center, in case No. 2469 of 2023 (State Security Supreme).
Security forces arrested El-Dahma in front of his home in the Miami district of Alexandria, in connection with the pro-Palestine demonstrations in October 2023. Earlier, the prosecution referred him to criminal trial without allowing the defense to review the referral order or the case files. As a result, the defense was unable to know the charges under which El-Dahma was referred to trial, since the prosecution did not send the case papers to the competent Court of Appeal.
This prompted the Association for Freedom of Thoughts and Expression to petition the Public Prosecutor, demanding ElDahma’s immediate release, as he has exceeded the legally prescribed maximum period of pretrial detention without being brought before the competent judicial authority. And also urges the prompt transmission of his case file to the Court of Appeal to schedule a trial session, in accordance with the law and his constitutional rights.

3 May 2026

The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) has submitted a petition to the Public Prosecutor, registered under No. 1692540 of 2026 (Public Prosecutor Petitions), on behalf of its client, Omar Mohamed Mohamed ElDahma, requesting his mandatory release and the rectification of the procedural irregularities in his case, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

On November 24, 2025, the Supreme State Security Prosecution referred ElDahma to criminal trial, after nearly two years in pretrial detention. However, the prosecution refused to allow the defense to review the referral order or the case files, leaving the defense unaware of the charges. The case file has not yet been transmitted to the competent Court of Appeal to assign a circuit and set a hearing date.

The petition is based on two main grounds:

First, the violation of Article 214 bis (A) of the Criminal Procedure Law, which mandates the immediate referral of the case file to the clerk’s office of the Court of Appeal. Where the defense requests time to review the file, the president of the court must set a period not exceeding ten days. This has not occurred, thereby obstructing ElDahma’s right to appear before his natural judge.

Second, the absence of a legal basis for his continued detention. The defense affirmed that the ongoing detention of ElDahma without being presented before the competent criminal court or the advisory chamber constitutes a grave violation and an unlawful infringement of personal liberty, in contravention of Articles 143 and 151 of the Criminal Procedure Law (Law No. 150 of 1950). Accordingly, his detention has become arbitrary and unlawful, necessitating his immediate release.

The defense team calls on the Public Prosecutor for ElDahma’s immediate release, as he has exceeded the legally prescribed maximum period of pretrial detention without being brought before the competent judicial authority. And also urges the prompt transmission of his case file to the Court of Appeal to schedule a trial session, in accordance with the law and his constitutional rights.

24 November 2025

The Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to refer Case No. 2469 of 2023 (Supreme State Security) in which Omar Mohamed Mohamed ElDahma is accused, to the Criminal Court, after notifying him of the referral order. However, the prosecution refused to allow the defense to review the referral order or the case files, leaving the defense unaware of the charges under which ElDahma was referred to trial. This comes after nearly two years of pretrial detention.

Security forces arrested El-Dahma in front of his home in the Miami district of Alexandria, over participating in demonstrations supporting Palestine in October 2023. He faced charges of joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and participating in a gathering that could endanger public peace.

18 February 2025

Cairo Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) renewed Omar Mohamed Mohamed ElDahma’s detention for 45 days, pending investigations in Case No. 2469 of 2023 (Supreme State Security), following his participation in demonstrations of solidarity with Palestine on Friday, 13 October 2023, in Alexandria.