Ramadan Without Bars | Yehia Hussein Abdel Hady: A Voice Defending Public Funds Awaiting His “Deferred” Freedom

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 highlight 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 ongoing suffering.

In this context, the Center renews its “Ramadan Without Bars” campaign, which includes a series of articles shedding light on a number of prisoners and detainees held in connection with opinion-related cases. The campaign aims to advocate for their release, as well as the release of all others detained in similar cases, and to call for the restoration of the freedom they deserve.

With the advent of Ramadan, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights reiterates its call for the release of Engineer Yehia Hussein Abdel Hady, who remains in pretrial detention in Case No. 3916 of 2024, in light of his deteriorating health condition and advanced age. His continued detention stems from accusations related to his writings and political views, despite the fact that the case file has been completed before the court, which legally allows for his release pending the issuance of a final judgment.

Abdel Hady is 72 years old and has suffered several successive health crises in recent months, which required his transfer on multiple occasions from his place of detention at 10th of Ramadan Prison to a medical facility for treatment. The most recent incident occurred on January 24, 2026, when he remained under medical care until February 1, before his condition deteriorated again shortly thereafter, necessitating another transfer amid growing concerns regarding his safety and well-being.

According to medical reports, he suffers from pleural effusion resulting from cardiac muscle weakness, a condition that requires careful medical monitoring and specialized care that is difficult to provide within detention facilities, particularly given his advanced age and chronic health conditions.

Security forces arrested Abdel Hady in July 2024 while he was on his way to participate in a seminar organized by the Hope Party (under establishment). He was subsequently brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, which charged him with joining a terrorist group, misusing social media platforms, publishing and disseminating false news and statements, committing a terrorism financing offense, and inciting the commission of a terrorist crime, based on opinion articles and online posts.

This case represents the third instance in which Abdel Hady has faced legal prosecution in connection with his writings. In a previous case, he was sentenced to imprisonment for publishing articles before later receiving a presidential pardon. In a second case, he received a one-year suspended prison sentence in connection with articles he had published, after which he continued to express his views through posts on his personal Facebook page.

The first arrest incident in recent years dates back to January 2019, following his public call for the release of a number of prisoners. He subsequently appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in Case No. 277 of 2019, facing accusations related to spreading false news and joining an illegal group. He had also previously been investigated in 2018 following a complaint accusing him of insulting the President of the Republic and publishing false news, before being released on bail.

Throughout his public career, Abdel Hady has held several positions, including Deputy Minister of Investment and Director of the Leadership Development Center. He also served as a member of the committee responsible for evaluating the Omar Effendi Company, where he became known for his opposition to its sale and for submitting a complaint to the Public Prosecutor concerning what he considered the squandering of public funds in the transaction.

In 2007, Abdel Hady participated in founding the “No to Selling Egypt” Movement, which opposed privatization, along with other national initiatives. He was later selected as a spokesperson for the Civil Democratic Movement.

The continuation of his detention despite the completion of investigations and the deterioration of his health condition raises growing concerns regarding his safety, particularly in light of his advanced age. This has prompted his legal defense team and supporters to call for his release or, at minimum, the replacement of his detention with any of the precautionary measures provided for under the law.

Within the framework of the “Ramadan Without Bars” campaign, the Egyptian Center emphasizes that the continued detention of prisoners and detainees in connection with cases related to opinion and freedom of expression—particularly elderly individuals and those suffering from illness—constitutes an extremely harsh humanitarian and legal situation. The Center therefore reiterates its call for the release of Yehia Hussein Abdel Hady and all prisoners and detainees held in cases related to opinion and expression, so that they may spend Ramadan with their families and regain their freedom, which is a fundamental right that should not remain confined behind bars.