For the 5th time.. today the consideration of the renewal of the detention of 2 workers from “Ghazl El Mahalla” in connection with the “minimum wage” strike.

On Sunday, May 19, 2024, The Supreme State Security Prosecution in Cairo considered the detention of two workers from the Misr Spinning and Weaving Company in Mahalla (Ghazl El Mahalla), Wael Abu Zoueid and Mohamed Mahmoud Talba, for 15 days pending Case No.717 of 2024 State Security, for the 5th time, on charges including joining an illegal group and spreading false rumors and news. That happened after they were arrested following their participation in the strike conducted by the company’s workers in protest against their exclusion from the minimum wage increase decision, with the decision to be announced later.

The defense team for the workers, including a lawyer from the Egyptian Center, attended the session for the renewal of the workers’ detention, asserting the lack of evidence of their involvement in the charges against them, especially since the workers announced the end of their peaceful strike. They demanded the immediate release of them without guarantees.

The Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of the workers for 15 days pending the case, three previous times since last March. On March 10, the workers’ lawyers were unable to attend the renewal of their detention order as well, as they were not allowed to know their place of detention until after the renewal session ended, and it was later revealed that they are being held in custody in the 10th of Ramadan Prison.