Ramadan Without Bars | Sherif El-Rouby: A Prisoner for “Solidarity with Prisoners”

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights takes advantage of the holy month of Ramadan, a time embodying justice and tolerance, to renew its persistent calls for the immediate release of individuals detained in connection with opinion-related cases, whether held in pretrial detention or already convicted.

Within this framework, the center launches the “Ramadan Without Bars” campaign, a series of articles highlighting a number of detainees imprisoned for expressing their opinions, aiming to advocate for their release and the freedom they rightfully deserve.

Political activist Sherif Ali Mohamed Ali, known as Sherif El-Rouby, barely had time to enjoy his release before being rearrested just four months later. His ordeal of repeated detention has spanned years, making him a near-permanent guest in the cells reserved for prisoners of conscience. He is currently detained pending investigations in Case No. 1634 of 2022 (Supreme State Security Prosecution)—just four months after being granted release.

El-Rouby was arrested in the early hours of September 16, 2022, in front of a hotel in Ahmed Helmy Square, downtown Cairo. He was then presented before the Supreme State Security Prosecution and charged in Case No. 1634 of 2022, facing accusations of spreading false news and joining a terrorist group. The prosecution ordered his 15-day detention, which has been continuously renewed before the Terrorism Circuit of the Criminal Court. He is currently held in 10th of Ramadan 6 Prison.

In May 2023, during a session to review his detention before the Criminal Court, El-Rouby’s defense team was shocked to discover that he was struggling to speak. He had developed severe facial nerve inflammation (seventh cranial nerve palsy), causing excruciating pain. Despite this, the Abu Zaabal Prison Administration refused to allow him to see a specialist or receive the necessary treatment at the prison hospital.

As a result, a lawyer from the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights submitted a request to the Attorney General of the Supreme State Security Prosecution, demanding El-Rouby’s release and access to adequate medical care, especially given his deteriorating health condition in detention.

The center’s request emphasized the lack of legal grounds for his continued pretrial detention, as stipulated under Article 134 of the Criminal Procedure Code. El-Rouby has a known and fixed residence, eliminating concerns of flight risk. He has no ability to tamper with evidence, as the case materials are in the prosecution’s possession. Additionally, his release would not pose a serious threat to public order or security. Notably, he had been previously detained in similar cases on the same charges but was released due to the prosecution’s failure to present any evidence against him.

Should his release prove unattainable, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights urged the judiciary to replace his pretrial detention with one of the precautionary measures outlined in Article 201 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

El-Rouby’s defense team has submitted multiple requests for medical examination and imaging due to his severe facial pain, yet the 10th of Ramadan 6 Prison Administration has also denied these requests.

Previously, El-Rouby spent nearly a year and a half in pretrial detention from December 2020 to May 2022 on identical charges in Case No. 1111 of 2020 (Supreme State Security Prosecution). His current detention marks his fourth arrest, having first been detained in 2016 for violating the Protest Law. He was later arrested again on April 6, 2018, in Alexandria and presented before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on April 16, 2018, in Case No. 621 of 2018 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).

On July 22, 2019, after spending approximately a year and a half in pretrial detention, the Cairo Criminal Court ordered his release under precautionary measures. However, he was rearrested in Case No. 1634 of 2022 (Supreme State Security Prosecution).

In this case, the Supreme State Security Prosecution charged El-Rouby with disseminating false news, misusing social media (Facebook), and participating in a terrorist group with knowledge of its objectives. He was subsequently transferred to Abu Zaabal Prison.

Upon his previous release, El-Rouby used his Facebook account to shed light on the struggles faced by former prisoners, including the difficulties in securing employment, travel restrictions, and other challenges preventing them from reintegrating into society.

Following his rearrest, the Presidential Pardon Committee, along with political parties and human rights defenders, launched initiatives to support the reintegration of former prisoners, while a number of pretrial detainees were later released in pardon lists.

In light of these initiatives and the release of several prisoners of conscience through presidential pardon decrees and judicial orders, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights has called upon state authorities, including the Presidency, the Presidential Pardon Committee, and the Public Prosecution, to urgently intervene to end El-Rouby’s suffering and that of his family by securing his release and restoring his life.

Earlier, the “Freedom for Sherif El-Rouby” campaign expressed its shock and dismay at his rearrest, particularly in light of the government’s promises to improve human rights conditions, engage in inclusive dialogue with opposition groups, implement the National Human Rights Strategy, and host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP).

Notably, in late 2015, El-Rouby was arrested alongside three other leaders of the April 6 Youth Movement in Case No. 20065 of 2015 (Dokki Misdemeanor Court) on charges of protesting without a permit and setting off fireworks at dawn. However, in March 2016, the Dokki Prosecution dismissed the case.

By April 2016, El-Rouby was again arrested, accused of joining a terrorist organization and calling for protests, in Case No. 58 of 2016 (South Giza Prosecution). He was further charged with organizing demonstrations against the Egypt-Saudi Arabia maritime border demarcation agreement (concerning the Tiran and Sanafir islands) and spreading false news via social media to incite public disorder. He was later released on bail in May 2016.

On April 6, 2018, he was arrested yet again in Alexandria and forcibly disappeared for eight days before being presented before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on April 16, 2018, where he was charged in Case No. 621 of 2018 (Supreme State Security Prosecution). He remained detained until July 22, 2019, when the Cairo Criminal Court ordered his release.

In 2020, El-Rouby was released by a decision from the Cairo Terrorism Circuit of the Criminal Court after nearly two years in pretrial detention. However, shortly thereafter, he was again placed in pretrial detention until his release in May 2022 in Case No. 1111 of 2021, alongside other detainees. He was rearrested in September 2022.

On this occasion, calls are being renewed for El-Rouby’s release, along with all individuals detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression, so that they may reunite with their families and reclaim their freedom, which is their fundamental right. No one’s Ramadan should be spent behind bars.