Jailing journalists, activists, politicians, depriving them of health care, travel bans, newspapers closure, blocking websites and programs, confiscation of books and libraries, show suspension decisions and other uncountable violations committed by a police state which persecutes whoever opposes the regime, whoever has a different point of view or even those who resorted to silence and stopped their political activities.
The first three months of 2018, precisely during the presidential elections, witnessed a siege against those who tried to run for the elections and politicians who supported them, for example, what happened with Former Chief of Staff General Sami Anan, after he declared his intention to run for the presidential elections and counselor Hesham Genina, head of the Central Auditing Organization and a member of Anan’s campaign. Not to mention Colonel Ahmed Shafiq’s withdrawal from the elections, along with arresting Hazem Abdul Azim, a politician and former member of al Sisi’s campaign. Moreover, ambassador Maassom Marzouk was arrested for suggesting an initiative concerning the political arena in Egypt.
Montaser al-Zayat, Abdul Halim Qandil, Mohamed Monib, Amir Salem, Tawfiq Okasha, Amr Hamzawi, Alaa Abdul Fattah, and a number of lawyers, journalists and politicians were listed as defendants in a case in which they are accused of insulting the judiciary.
Violations continued forming an arsenal of legislation imposing prohibitions on traditional and social media, like the cybercrimes law, which allowed investigative authorities to block any website and impose a fine or a jail penalty.
While authorities never stop bragging about “Freedom of expression”, three legislations meant to silence opposition were adopted, however, there were hidden deals with media figures, and other media figures completely disappeared from the field.
Throughout the year, a series of blocks took place against numerous websites. A policy that commenced in 2017 and continued till now, the last but not least, was the block of ‘Katib’ website which was blocked 9 hours after its launching.
Banning from Running for the Presidential Elections
- The year 2018 started with Colonel Ahmed Shafiq declaring his withdrawal from presidential elections race on the 7th of January, before announcing the timetable of elections. He published his statement on “Twitter” under pressure.
- On 29th November 2017, Shafiq announced his intention to run the presidential elections from his residence at the UAE. He returned to Egypt on the 2nd of December 2017, after spending 5 years in the UAE.
- As he arrived in Cairo, his family could not reach him. Moreover, a fierce organized smear campaign was launched by the regime’s media outlets targeting the colonel. It appeared that the candidate was placed under house arrest in a hotel until he declares his withdrawal.
- On 20th of January, General Sami Anan, former chief of staff in the Egyptian Army, announced his intention to run for the presidential elections, after Sisi’s announcement to run for the elections for the second term. Anan aired his statement through a video published on Facebook.
- On the 23rd of January, Anan’s campaign announced its termination, after his arrest. Anan was accused of forgery but he was released after paying bail in the case of violating military regulations. The public military attorney issued a gag order in this case.
- On 27th January, counselor Hesham Genina, former president of Central Auditing Organization and a member of Anan’s campaign, experienced a physical assault by unknown persons. He was beaten and stabbed with white weapons.
- Genina, after the assault, accepted to be interviewed by “Huffington Post”, Arabic edition. He stated that Anan owns confidential documents which convict the Army Council, that ran the country after toppling Mubarak.
- On the 13th of February, security forces arrested Genina from his house, he was interrogated before the military prosecution and accused of publishing false news that may trouble public security, frighten people and damaging public interest.
- On 24th of April, the military court sentenced Genina to five years in jail, as he was found guilty of circulating false information about the military forces in press statements. The verdict was appealed but the appeal is not considered till this moment.
- The general scene in the election arena forced human rights attorney, Khaled Ali, to withdraw from running the elections on 24th of January. As he announced his withdrawal in a press conference in a protest against violations imposed on his campaign members and arresting some of them. On 6th October, the President of Cairo Appealing Court issued a travel ban against Khaled Ali, as a suspect in NGO case.
- On 19th September, Misdemeanors Appealing Court of Al Dokki supported the verdict of imprisoning Khaled Ali for three months for committing an obscene act. The verdict was suspended for three years. It appeared that it was a punishment for announcing himself as a candidate in the elections.
- On 25th September 2017, Misdemeanors Court of al Dokki sentenced Khaled Ali for committing an obscene act, when a photo of him showed he was giving a gesture after the verdict issued by the Supreme Administrative Court, to invalidate the ‘Tiran and Sanafir’ treaty, issued on 16th January the same year.
- Qonsowa
Violations Against Journalists, Newspapers, and Websites
Arresting Journalists
During this year, case no. 441 of 2018 was opened to include a huge number of journalists, under accusations of joining a group founded contrary to the provisions of the law and publishing false news. Among them were: Adel Sabri, editor-in-chief of Masr al Arabia, Moataz Wadnan, Hassan al Bana, Mostafa al Assar, and photojournalists, Zeinab Abo Ouna, Abdul Rahman al Ansari, Mohamed Abo Zeid, Islam Gomaa and Shorouk Amgad. They are not referred yet to court.
On 3rd of April, security forces stormed “Masr Al Arabia” headquarters, arresting the editor-in-chief, Adel Sabri, searching computers under the pretext of technical works check. The police took Sabri to al Dokki police station after the closure of the headquarter and evacuating it.
On 9th of July, Giza Criminal Court released Sabri on bail 10 thousand L.E. pending consideration of case no. 4861 of 2018, Dokki Misdemeanors. But he was referred to the Supreme State Security Prosecution to be investigated in the case 441 of 2018. The prosecution decided to detain him after being interrogated for hours, accusing him of joining a group founded contrary to law and publishing false news.
On 4th of February, security forces arrested journalists: Mostafa al Assar and Hassan al Bana under the case of 441. They are still detained.
On 16th February, security forces arrested Moataz Wadnan, on the background of interviewing Hesham Genina, in the case of 441. He is still detained.
On the 14th of November, Torah Prison Directorate, for the first time, allowed Wadnan’s family to visit him after being deprived of this right for months.
Exceeding the Legal Limit of Pre-Trial Detention
Journalist and researcher, Hesham Jaafar, on the 13th of November was referred to another judicial department, for “sensing embarrassment”, though his detention exceeded the legal period. He is still detained.
Jaafar was arrested on 15th October 2015, under accusations of joining a terrorist group and receiving international bribery in case no. 720 of 2015, State Security.
Besides exceeding the legal pre-trial detention period, Jaafar is confined in a solitary cell, in the worst prison ever, Al Aqrab prison, he is deprived of parade and family visits.
On 21st December 2017, the prison directorate prevented his family from visiting him without justifications. Moreover, he suffers from atrophy in the optic nerve and he is in an urgent need for surgery as he suffers from an enlarged prostate.
On 22nd May 2018, Military Criminal Court sentenced Ismail al Eskandrani, journalist and researcher, to 10 years, in case no. 18 of 2018, military crimes, under accusations of acquiring and publishing military secrets, joining an outlawed group and publishing false news. Yet, Tamer Refaie, the military spokesman, denied, on 26th May, any sentences issued against Eskandarani, in a statement he gave to “Reporters without borders” organization, however, no official statement is issued in this concern.
On 13th December 2017, a decision of referring Eskandarani to a military court was issued, two years after detaining him without trial. Ismail was arrested on 29th November 2015 from Hurghada airport while returning from Germany.
On 8th September 2018, the photojournalist Mahmoud Abo Zeid “Shawkan”, terminated his pre-trial detention suffering, as Cairo Criminal Court sentenced him, with 214 others, to 5 years imprisonment, and police surveillance for other 5 years, in the case known as “Rabaa Disperse”, which goes back to August 2013.
On 12th November, legal sources uncovered that Shawkan and his peers are to undergo the penalty of “Physical Coercion” for 6 months for not paying criminal expenses and determined compensations. The court verdict obliged the defendants to “repay the value of destroyed properties during Rabaa al Adawia sit-in along with criminal expenses”, yet the court did not specify the demanded amount of money.
Lately, Abdul Halim Qandil, a journalist writer and editor-in-chief of “Sawt al Omma”, joined the list of jailed journalists. He is among the defendants of a case known as “Insulting Judiciary”, which includes a number of journalists, politicians, and lawyers.
On 15th October, Cassation Court rejected the appeal on the issued verdicts, supporting the criminal court verdict against “Montaser al-Zayat, Abdul Halim Qandil, Mostafa al Naggar, Mohamed Monib, Hamdi al Fakharany, and others”. The defendants were sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and a fine for each.
On 24th and 25th October, the defense of the accused submitted an opposition against the issued verdicts by the Cassation Court.
Blocking websites and banning channels
On 24th June 2018, ‘Katib’ website, an initiative by the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, headed by Khaled al Balshi, Syndicate Council member and former rapporteur of the freedoms committee, was blocked 9 hours after being launched. Al Balshi underwent another experience of blocking when “al Bedaya” website, was blocked in 2017.
In Egypt, there are 500 blocked websites under the instructions of an anonymous authority. Since 24th of May 2017, blocking news websites commenced: Mada Masr, Masr al Arabiya, Al Badil and Corabia for the stock market and al Masryoon. The blocking policies continued to hit human rights websites like The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information, Reporters without Borders and Human Rights Watch.
On 3rd December, the Supreme Council for Regulating Media, decided to suspend LtC channel broadcasting until it legalizes its situation, after granting it a period for legalizing ended on 20th November.
This is not the first time to issue such a decision, the council, on 8th October, issued a decision to ban a channel broadcasting until legalizing situation, not to mention penalties and punishments.
Confiscation and Publication bans
On 23rd June, Dr. Ammar Ali Hassan published an article on his Facebook account. The article was banned from publication on newspapers as he criticized the regime’s decision to increase fuel prices.
The article was titled: The prices fuel, a state that does not protect or have mercy and a middle class that collapses.
“Is Egypt, Really, a Poor State”, a book written by economic researcher Abdul Khaleq Farouq, was confiscated on 14th October. Moreover, the owner of the printing house, Ibrahim al-Khatib, was arrested until the arrest of the author on 21st October.
On 29th October, the two were released after their attorney appealed against the decision of their detention issued by Zeinhom Court on 24th October.
On 18th October, security forces arrested Ayman Abdul Moati, manager of the Advertising and Distribution department in “Al Maraya” for art production. He was arrested from the publishing house under the case no. 621 of 2018. He faces accusations of joining a terrorist group and publishing false news.
Investigating editors-in-chief and fining newspapers
Coinciding with the presidential elections, which took place on 26th – 28th March, ended with an overwhelming success of Abdul Fattah al Sisi (97%) before his rival from al Ghad party, Moussa Mostafa Moussa, the Supreme Council for Regulating Media, headed by Makram Mohamed Ahmed, decided to fine “Masr al Arabiya” website and “al Masry al Youm” newspaper, on the background of publishing reports about the elections.
On the 1st of April, the council decided to refer al Masry al Youm editor-in-chief Mohamed al Sayed Saleh, and the editor of the report, to Journalists Syndicate to be interrogated for a headline appeared in the newspaper on 29th March in the first page stating “The State Mobilizes Voters on the Last Day of Elections”. Another report, published on the paper’s website, was considered evidence of the conviction, as it was titled “To whom the rival, Moussam Mostafa Moussa, voted”. The council also decided a fine of 150,000 L.E. and an obligation to the newspaper to publish an apology to the National Elections Authority in the same place and with the same space.
On the 10th of April, Journalists Syndicate received a summon from supreme state security prosecution demanding editor-in-chief, Mohamed al Sayed Saleh and other 8 editors from the newspaper to appear for investigations, on the background of a complaint submitted against what was published on 29th March.
On 20th April, the prosecution decided to release the 8 editors without guarantees, and a bail of 10,000 L.E. for the editor-in-chief after being interrogated for 4 hours.
The supreme council for regulating media also fined the “Masr al Arabiya” website with 50,000 L.E. for translating a report and publishing it on the website. The report was by the New York Times titled “For as Little as $3 a Vote, Egyptians Trudge to Election Stations”.
On 21st February, the council decided to ban “Sah al Noum” TV show for one week, broadcast on LTC on the background of a complaint submitted by the presidential candidate, Moussa Mostafa Moussa, for insulting him. A fine of 25,000 L.E. was imposed on the channel and the anchor, Mohammed al Gheiti, was referred to the Journalists Syndicate to be interrogated.
Violations Against Bloggers and Activists
On the 3rd of December 2018, a decision of releasing Wael Abbas, a blogger, was issued. Abbas was detained under case no. 441 of 2018. A decision of releasing him was issued after rejecting the prosecution opposition on the release decision. He was released with ‘precautionary measures’.
Abbas was practically released on 12th December, 9 days after the issuance of the release decision.
Wael Abbas was arrested from his house, after storming into the house and searching it, on 23rd May. He faced accusations of participating with a terrorist group to achieve its goals, publishing false news and misuse of social media.
Abbas, though, is not the only blogger who underwent such an experience. On 6th of April, Mohamed Ibrahim, known for “Mohamed Oxygen”, was arrested and disappeared for one week before appearing as a defendant in case no. 621 of 2018, State Security. He faced accusations of joining a terrorist group and publishing false news. He is still detained in a solitary cell.
Shadi Abo Zeid, a reporter for a comic show “Abla Fahita”, is detained in the case no. 621. He was arrested on the 7th of May from his house. He is still detained facing accusations of publishing false news and joining an outlawed group.
Prisoners Health Deterioration, Deprivation from family visits and solitary confinement
On 14th January, the wife of journalist Ahmed Abdul Aziz announced that his health status is deteriorating, as he suffers from a tumor and 3 kidney stones. The prisoner is in an urgent need for surgery while the prison directorate never provides him with adecuate health care.
Abdul Aziz was arrested, along with Hossam al Sweifi, in front of the Journalists Syndicate headquarter while participating in a protest against Trump’s decision to transfer the US embassy to Jerusalem, on 7th December 2017. They were included in case no. 977 of 2017 State Security, known as “Mekamelin Case”, under claims that they corresponded with Mekamelin TV channel and accusations of publishing false news and joining a terrorist group.
There are other 5 journalists accused in case no. 977, their names are: Ahmed Abo Zeid, Ahmed al Sahkawi, Ahmed Bayoumi, Ahmed al Toukhi and Mahmoud Mabrouk”
Solitary Confinement
Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb was arrested on 15th May as he was accused of insulting the President and publishing false news. He was included in case no. 1697 of 2018. Harb was supposed to be released after paying a bail of 50,000 L.E, but he was included in another case no. 621 of 2018, facing accusations of publishing false news and joining an outlawed group.
Dr. Harb is confined in a solitary cell since he was referred to case no. 621.
Mohamed al Qassas, Deputy of Masr al Qawya Party, is confined in a solitary cell in “Torah” prison – excessive guarding – which is known as “al Aqrab” prison. He was arrested on 8th February and deprived of family visits.
Qassas is included in case no. 977 of 2017, known as “Mekamelin 2” as he faces accusations of participating with Muslim Brotherhood in inciting against state institutions, holding organizational meetings with military personnel of the group and publishing false news.
On 14th February, security forces arrested Dr. Abdul Monem Abul Fottoh, former head of Masr al Qawya party and former presidential candidate. He is detained under the case no. 440 of 2018, he is also confined in a solitary confinement cell.
Abol Fottoh underwent angina pectoris four times inside his cell. His health status is deteriorating and he is in urgent need to be transferred to a hospital in order to have a check-up and proper health care. His lawyers submitted several requests with no response.
Abol Fottoh is facing accusations of: Publishing false news which damage national state interests, heading a group founded contrary to law provisions, aiming at hampering constitutional articles and law provisions, preventing state institutions from performing its responsibilities, legalizing ousting the governor, changing governing regime by force, breaching public order and jeopardizing social peace and security.
Persecution of politicians, political parties and activists
Blockading opposition is escalating, here are some examples of arresting opposition figures for their opinion:
Sherif al Rubi, an activist in 6th April Movement. He disappeared until appearing on 17th April. He is detained in the case of 621 of 2018, facing accusations of joining a terrorist group and publishing false news.
On 26th May, security forces arrested Hazem Abdul Azim, a former member of Abdul Fattah Al Sisi presidential campaign in 2014. He is still detained in case no. 734 of 2018.
Prosecution directed accusations of participating in an outlawed group aiming to hamper constitutional and legal provisions, publishing false news and information concerning political and economic situation deliberately to disturb public peace and to shake confidence in the state institutions.
On 23rd August 2018, security forces arrested ambassador Maassom Marzouq from his house, after suggesting an initiative discussing the political status in Egypt, as he proposed to hold a referendum on the current regime.
At the same time, security forces arrested the following: economic expert, Raed Salama, Dr. Yahya Kazzaz, activists: Nermin Hussein, Sameh Seoudi, Amr Mohamed, Abdul Fattah Said, who are known for “the feast detainees”. They are detained in case no. 1305 of 2018, State Security, under accusations of participating with a terrorist group to achieve its aims.
On 14th October, security forces launched an arrest campaign against activists and former lawyers, as it arrested Sayed al Banna from his house in Shubra al Kheima, physician Walid Shawqi was arrested from his clinic and in the dawn of 15th October, lawyer Ahmed Sabri Abo Alam was arrested from his house.
The three disappeared, until Sayed al Banna and Ahmed Abo Alam appeared two days after being arrested. Investigations with Walid Shawqi started on 20th October. The three are included in case no. 621 of 2018 under the accusations of joining a terrorist group and publishing false news.
The disappearance of Mostafa Al Naggar
In the cassation court, a session of the case known as “insulting judiciary was held on 15th October, one of the defendants is Dr. Mostafa al Naggar, former MP, has disappeared from the session. His lawyer, Negad al Boraei submitted a request to the court to uncover his place, asserting that his wife was informed that her husband exists in a central security camp in Aswan.
On 18th October, Egypt State Information Service denied his existence in a central security camp. Till this moment, al Naggar’s destiny is vague.
Jailing Sayeda Fayed over Facebook Posts
Objective Court in Helwan declared nurse Sayeda Fayed’s acquittal from the accusation of publishing false news in case no. 29377 of 2018, Helwan misdemeanors, on the background of publishing certain posts on her Facebook account.
Security forces stormed into the house of Fayed, who is a syndicate activist, on 22nd October, arresting her after searching the house and confiscating her mobile phone and computer. The raid came on the background of National Security’s investigations concerning her Facebook posts, as she expressed her opposition to the nurses’ situation. The prosecution referred her to court on 4th November under accusations of publishing false news.
It is worth mention that Sayeda Fayed, and a number of nursing workers, are working to establish an independent syndicate.
The Head of Nursing Syndicate has filed a complaint against Sayda Fayed, and nine of her colleagues, accusing them of joining a banned group and publishing false news, among them, nurse Wagdi Al Sayed, who was arrested from Suez governorate, few days before Sayeda’s arrest. He is still detained, while the rest of his colleagues were released.
Violations against collective acts of freedom of expression (protests)
On 29th October, lawyer Haytham Mohammadein was released two weeks after the decision of his release was issued. He was detained in case no. 718 of 2018 with precautionary measures with other 4 defendants in the case known as “the underground detainees”.
On 10th October, Giza criminal court supported the decision of releasing Mohammadein, Abir al Safti, Youssef Reio and Ahmed Abdul Rahman with precautionary measures, after rejected the state security prosecution appeal.
Security forces had arrested the underground detainees during demonstrating against increasing tickets price, on 12th May, among them was Asmaa Abdul Hamid, Abir al Safti and Youssef Reio, while Mohammadein was arrested from his house concurrently. They were accused of joining a terrorist group aiming at hampering state’s institutions, constitutional and legal provisions and inciting to demonstrate.
On the 24th of November, al Warraq Misdemeanors Court, terrorism department, decided to postpone the trial of 22 defendants, among them 5 lawyers and a woman from al Warraq island, 19th January was set as a date for the trial accusing the defendants of demonstrating against evacuating the population from al Warraq.
Thousands of al Warraq residents had demonstrated in protest against a campaign of destroying parts of their buildings and the issuance of a decision to evacuate them from the island in order to establish an investment project.
Confiscation of artistic and creative works
On 28th February, Mohsen Tantawi, head of Al Saeid club, decided to ban the performance of “Suleiman Khater” play, claiming that the theater play includes insults directed to the armed forces, saying that it did not acquire permission from the authorities.
On 5th March, military general attorney ordered to imprison the play crew under investigations in accusation of insulting the armed forces, on the background of a complaint filed by lawyer Samir Sabri submitted to the public prosecutor and the military general attorney against Ahmed al Garhi, the play director and Walid Atef, the playwright, accusing them of insulting the armed forces in their play theater.
The situation ended with a decision of imprisoning Garhi and his crew two months and suspending the penalty on 25th July. The decision was issued by North military misdemeanor court.
Egyptian authorities banned “Sawsiya for short and documentary films festival” on 14th September, without announcement or notifications explaining the reasons. The ban took place one hour before inaugurating the festival, as tourism police notified the Directorate of the festival that the site in which the festival is going to be held is not suitable for receiving a huge number of audience, despite that the Directorate members announced the festival’s timing and site two months before it has been launched.
The cabinet issued a decision banning holding any events without acquiring a license from a supreme committee formed by 15 members under the presidency of the minister of culture. The committee includes representatives from the foreign ministry, interior ministry, finance ministry, tourism ministry, the ministry of antiquities, the ministry of civil aviation, ministry of youth and sports, the ministry of local development. The representatives are chosen by the competent minister.
The decision was published in the Gazette on 11th July, in which the minister of culture gave the power to this committee to reject the license request, moreover, the minister of culture has the right to ban the festival or cancel its license without any regulations.
Cybercrime and journalism legislation
President Abdul Fattah al Sisi, on 18th August, ratified the cybercrime law no. 175 of 2018, which includes article no. 45, submitted by the government.
The law issued in article 30, in its seventh item, gave investigative authorities the power to block websites in case of publishing any content which is considered a crime as it is illustrated by law, such as crimes that threaten national security or jeopardize national security or economy.
The law imposes imprisonment penalties to two years and a fine of 500,000 L.E. against telecommunication companies in case it does not implement the blocking decision.
On the 1st of September, president Abdul Fattah Al Sisi, ratified the law of regulating the press, media and the supreme council of regulating media, no. 180 of 2018 which includes 110 articles divided into 7 headlines.
The law gave the supreme council of regulating media a wide scale power that included blocking websites and blogs, not to mention suspending accounts on social media that have more than 5,000 followers under loose accusations like publishing false news, insulting, defaming, inciting to violate law, inciting to fanaticism or insulting religions without a clear definition.
The law gave a good cover for pre-trial detention for journalists. According to the article 29, it is not allowed to detain a person in cyber crimes except crimes connected to inciting to violence, discrimination, and defaming, such an article allows detention under the pretext of loose accusation beside the crimes of publication.
Legalizing websites, a new way to block freedom of speech
On 21st October 2018, the supreme council for regulating media announced new conditions for legalizing websites, imposing new procedures to give license for websites. Such conditions are contrary to law provisions.
The council obliges websites to submit a request within two weeks, to pay 50,000 L.E. as fees every 5 years and 100,000 as a deposit for the website, which is considered a legal violation for the second article of the law that grants websites 6 months for legalizing their situation after the issuance of the executive law.
The crew responsible for launching “Katib” website, including editor-in-chief Khaled al Balshi, under the pressure of such legislation, decided to freeze the website.
On 19th November, the Complains Committee in the supreme council for regulating media stated a new schedule for penalties including 30 articles.
The schedule gives the council the power to impose fines on newspapers and websites that might reach 500,000 L.E. or to block the site/suspend the program after investigating the loose breaches which are not clearly defined, for example: using obscene words or weird phrases.
Disappearing from the media scene
Despite the ratification of regulations on journalism, media and the supreme council for regulating media, the field witnessed changes and vague atmosphere without any explanation, as many of the media celebrities suddenly disappeared without declaring reasons, among them:
Gaber al Karmouti: on 31st of August, Gaber al Karmouti, announced the suspension of his TV program “Manchette”, broadcast on al Nahar TV channel, without declaring reasons. He reappeared in another program titled “BashGaber”, on his youtube account. The first episode was released on 29th November, but the program again was suspended. It is more likely that he was frightened.
After announcing her return on the first of September, following a vacation lasted for two months, Lamis al Hadidi, though, disappeared from media, as she stopped presenting her TV program “Hona al Asema” broadcast on CBC TV channel, without any explanation.
On 27th July, Khairi Ramadan and Rasha Nabil announced the suspension of their program “Egypt Today”, broadcast on al Masriya TV channel, they claimed they are taking a vacation, without setting a date for their return. Both are absent from TV until this moment.
