Ramadan Without Bars | Sherif El-Rouby: After Calling for a “Decent Life” for Released Prisoners, He Was Returned to Prison

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights (ECESR) is using the holy month of Ramadan—with its values of compassion, justice, and family unity—to shed light on the situation of individuals detained in connection with cases related to freedom of opinion and expression, whether they are held in pretrial detention or serving custodial sentences, and to call for an end to their continued suffering.

In this context, the Center renews its “Ramadan Without Bars” campaign, a series of advocacy articles highlighting a number of prisoners and detainees held in connection with opinion-related cases, with the aim of calling for their release—as well as the release of all individuals detained under similar circumstances—and for the restoration of the freedoms to which they are entitled.

Within this framework, the Center highlights the case of political activist Sherif Ali Mohamed Ali, widely known as Sherif El-Rouby. Shortly after he had begun to enjoy his release following a period of pretrial detention, he was re-arrested only four months later, renewing a cycle of detention that has marked much of his recent years and effectively rendering him a recurrent detainee in opinion-related cases.

El-Rouby is currently held pending investigation in Case No. 1634 of 2022 (Supreme State Security Prosecution), only four months after a judicial decision had ordered his release.

Security forces arrested El-Rouby in the early hours of September 16, 2022, in front of a hotel in Ahmed Helmy Square in central Cairo. He was subsequently brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, where he was interrogated in connection with Case No. 1634 of 2022, facing accusations including spreading false news and joining a terrorist organization. The prosecution initially ordered his pretrial detention for fifteen days, which has since been repeatedly renewed before the Terrorism Circuit of the Criminal Court. He is currently detained at 10th of Ramadan Prison (Facility 6).

In May 2023, during a hearing on the renewal of his detention before the Criminal Court sitting in chambers, El-Rouby’s defense team observed that he was experiencing difficulty speaking. He reported suffering from severe inflammation of the facial nerve (Bell’s palsy), which caused him intense pain. Despite this condition, the administration of Abu Zaabal Prison reportedly refused to allow him to be examined by a specialist physician or to transfer him to the prison hospital to receive the necessary treatment.

Following this development, a lawyer from the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights submitted a formal request to the Advocate General of the State Security Prosecution, calling for El-Rouby’s release, particularly in light of the deterioration of his health condition while in detention.

In its request, the Center emphasized that the legal grounds for pretrial detention set forth in Article 134 of the Egyptian Code of Criminal Procedure are not satisfied in El-Rouby’s case. The Center noted that he has a known and stable place of residence, poses no risk of flight if released, and is unable to interfere with or tamper with the evidence, which remains in the possession of the Public Prosecution. Furthermore, his release would not pose a serious threat to public security or public order. The Center also noted that El-Rouby had previously been detained in similar cases involving the same accusations and was ultimately released after the prosecution found no evidence substantiating the charges.

The Center further requested that, should his release not be granted, his pretrial detention be replaced with one of the precautionary measures provided for under Article 201 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

It is also worth noting that El-Rouby’s defense team submitted several requests for him to be examined by a specialist physician and to undergo diagnostic imaging, due to the severe pain resulting from the facial nerve inflammation. El-Rouby informed the court that the administration of 10th of Ramadan Prison (Facility 6) had likewise refused to allow him access to a specialist doctor.

Previously, El-Rouby spent approximately one and a half years in pretrial detention between December 2020 and May 2022 in connection with the same accusations in Case No. 1111 of 2020 (State Security). His current detention therefore represents the fourth instance of his imprisonment.

His first arrest occurred in 2016 on charges of violating the Protest Law, followed by another arrest on April 6, 2018, in Alexandria. On April 16, 2018, he was brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution for investigation in Case No. 621 of 2018 (State Security).

On July 22, 2019, after approximately one and a half years in pretrial detention, the Cairo Criminal Court ordered his release under precautionary measures. Nevertheless, he was later detained again in Case No. 1634 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).

In this case, the State Security Prosecution charged El-Rouby with broadcasting and disseminating false news and statements, misusing a social media platform (Facebook), and participating in a terrorist group with knowledge of its purposes, after which he was placed in Abu Zaabal Prison.

Following his release, El-Rouby used his Facebook account to highlight the hardships faced by former prisoners and individuals released from detention, including the difficulties they encounter in securing decent employment opportunities, traveling, or moving freely, and the broader challenges associated with reintegration necessary to ensure a dignified life.

After his re-arrest, the Presidential Pardon Committee, along with a number of political parties, public figures, and human rights advocates, launched initiatives aimed at supporting the reintegration of former detainees and released prisoners, at a time when additional individuals held in pretrial detention were subsequently released through judicial release decisions.

In light of these initiatives, and the release of a number of prisoners of conscience through court-ordered releases and presidential pardon lists, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights called upon the relevant authorities—beginning with the Presidency of the Republic, the Presidential Pardon Committee, and the Public Prosecution—to urgently intervene to end the suffering of El-Rouby and his family by securing his release and allowing him to return to his normal life.

Previously, the “Freedom for Sherif El-Rouby” campaign expressed its shock at his re-arrest in light of the government’s stated commitments to improving the human rights situation in Egypt, engaging in comprehensive dialogue with opposition forces, implementing the National Human Rights Strategy, and Egypt’s hosting of the United Nations Climate Conference.

On this occasion, renewed calls are made for the release of Sherif El-Rouby and all individuals detained in connection with cases related to freedom of opinion and expression, so that they may return to their families and regain their freedom—a fundamental right that should not remain confined behind prison bars, particularly during the month of Ramadan.