Ramadan Without Bars | The Prisoners of Inflation .. Demanding a Decent Life Is Not a Crime
As the holy month of Ramadan, a time that embodies justice and compassion approaches, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights renews its calls for the immediate release of individuals detained in connection with opinion-related cases, whether they are held in pretrial detention or serving sentences.
In this context, the center is launching the “Ramadan Without Bars” campaign, a series of articles shedding light on the cases of individuals imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of expression. The campaign aims to advocate for their release, as well as the release of all others detained in similar cases, reaffirming their fundamental right to liberty.
In a small village in Beheira Governorate, Abdelaziz Ramadan Ali, a 20-year-old nursing graduate, was the sole hope for his family. His father, a daily-wage construction worker, had placed great hopes on his son’s education to secure a better future. However, on July 11, 2024, security forces raided their home and arrested Abdelaziz, accusing him of publishing social media posts critical of rising inflation and deteriorating living conditions.
Abdelaziz was subsequently charged in Case No. 3434 of 2024 (Supreme State Security Prosecution) with membership in a banned organization, spreading false information, and misusing social media platforms.
From northern Egypt to its southernmost governorate, Aswan, another young man, Islam Mahmoud Abdelaziz, had just completed three years of mandatory military service. He had recently secured a temporary contract as a mechanical technician in a public-sector company, hoping for job stability and financial security. However, in July 2024, he was arrested due to social media posts addressing the surge in prices and worsening economic conditions.
Islam was also charged in Case No. 3434 of 2024 (Supreme State Security Prosecution) with the same allegations as Abdelaziz. His continued pretrial detention has resulted in warnings of dismissal from his employer due to forced absenteeism, placing his only source of income at risk.
The cases of Abdelaziz and Islam are not isolated incidents but rather part of a broader crisis affecting countless Egyptian families amid worsening economic conditions. Inflation has surged to unprecedented levels, while wages remain stagnant, failing to meet even basic living expenses.
These cases highlight a growing trend in which individuals expressing concerns over economic hardships face punitive measures rather than constructive engagement. Current economic policies continue to place disproportionate burdens on workers and lower-income citizens, while failing to impose equitable obligations on businesses that generate substantial profits. This exacerbates social inequalities and deepens the absence of economic justice—an issue that can no longer be deferred.
Workers across various sectors endure precarious employment conditions, marked by an expansion of temporary contracts, arbitrary dismissals, inadequate wages, and a lack of social protections. Meanwhile, working women continue to face gender-based pay disparities and poor labor conditions. Small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs struggle under the dominance of large capital in the market, with insufficient state support.
Amid declining public spending on essential services, subsidy reductions, and soaring prices, millions find it increasingly difficult to access basic services, which are gradually being commodified. This reality further marginalizes vulnerable communities, depriving them of their fundamental socio-economic rights.
In response to these hardships, many citizens have turned to social media to voice their concerns and advocate for improved living conditions. However, rather than addressing these legitimate grievances, the authorities have opted to detain individuals for expressing their views peacefully.
Advocating for economic and social justice should never be grounds for detention. Instead, authorities must tackle the root causes of economic discontent by implementing policies that guarantee dignified living conditions for all citizens. Furthermore, they must immediately release all individuals detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression and peaceful advocacy.
A society that criminalizes legitimate demands for economic and social rights places its own stability and social cohesion at risk. Authorities must heed the voices of the people and address their concerns rather than suppressing them.
As Ramadan approaches, the call for the release of all individuals detained for speaking out against inflation and economic hardship grows louder. Their rightful place is with their families, enjoying the freedom that is inherently theirs. No one should spend Ramadan behind bars.
