Ramadan Without Bars | Abdel Khalek Farouk: An Economist Accused of “Joining a Group”
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights leverages the holy month of Ramadan, a time symbolizing justice and tolerance, to renew its ongoing calls for the immediate release of individuals detained in cases related to freedom of expression, whether held in pretrial detention or already convicted.
As part of this initiative, the center has launched the “Ramadan Without Bars” campaign, which features a series of articles highlighting individuals detained for expressing their opinions. The campaign seeks to advocate for their right to freedom, along with all others facing similar charges.
On the morning of March 15, visual artist Naglaa Salama prepared for a long and exhausting day as she set out to visit her husband, Dr. Abdel Khalek Farouk, an economist imprisoned in Prison 10 (6). She carefully prepared his visitation meal, hoping it would be admitted in full. Arriving at the Tenth of Ramadan Prison Complex at 9:30 AM, she was not granted access to visit him until 4:00 PM, and even then, the visit lasted no more than 10 minutes, following hours of waiting.
This year, the usual family atmosphere, celebrations, and joy of Ramadan are absent for Abdel Khalek Farouk’s family due to his continued imprisonment. While his family endures the hardship of his absence, he, too, suffers behind bars, especially as his health deteriorates.
“There is no privacy during visits, nor any space for meaningful communication—just a few minutes, and then it ends. My husband has not seen sunlight in months. He is completely isolated from other prisoners and only allowed one hour of exercise per day, confined to the prison floor of his cell block,” says his wife.
Naglaa further explains:
“Since his arrest on October 20, 2024, my husband has suffered three heart attacks while in detention, as well as a kidney crisis and other serious health complications. He has been transferred to the prison hospital multiple times. His life is at daily risk. Recently, he was moved to a remote section of the prison, and eight cells on his floor were vacated, which would delay access to urgent medical assistance in the event of another health crisis.”
She adds:
“We cannot understand the reasoning behind these restrictions. He is allowed to receive books, yet he is denied pens and paper to write. What justification could there be for this? Writing is as essential to Abdel Khalek as water and air. What possible risk does allowing him to write inside prison pose?”
Recently, the Badr Criminal Court Consultation Chamber renewed Abdel Khalek Farouk’s pretrial detention for 45 days in Case No. 4937 of 2024. The renewal hearing was conducted via video conference, but his audio and video feed were suddenly cut off mid-speech, preventing him from making any statements that might have revealed mistreatment or violations inside the prison, according to his wife, who cited his lawyer in a Facebook post.
Farouk has been transferred to the Prison 10 (6) Hospital three times since January, following suspected coronary artery blockages that led to heart attacks. During a previous detention renewal hearing, he complained about prison authorities’ treatment, alleging they had denied him adequate exercise time.
The 67-year-old economist was arrested at his home on October 20, 2024, and brought before State Security Prosecution, which charged him with “joining a terrorist group” and “spreading false news.” He was previously detained in October 2018 on similar charges after publishing his book “Is Egypt Really a Poor Country?” The book was confiscated from the printing press, though he was later released.
On January 9, 2025, Farouk declared a hunger strike to protest his poor detention conditions and the lack of adequate medical care. However, he was forced to end it after his health further deteriorated. He suffers from hypertension, diabetes, and arterial issues, and he previously detailed the severity of his medical condition during interrogations.
During a past detention renewal hearing, Farouk stated that prison authorities keep him and other detainees confined to their cells for 23 hours a day, severely affecting their physical and mental well-being.
Farouk has authored numerous works on Egypt’s economic and political landscape, as well as financial and administrative corruption. Amid these concerns, renewed calls are being made for his immediate release, along with all individuals detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression, so they may reunite with their families and reclaim their rightful freedom—ensuring that their Ramadan is not spent behind bars.
