Summary of the past week’s hearings that are being investigated by the state Security Prosecution
The Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social rights Lawyers have attended during the past week a number of hearings in relation to pre-trial detentions in a number of lawsuits that are being investigated by the state security prosecution. The Centre’s lawyers have attended the said hearings as the attorneys of a number of journalists, political and human rights activists and political cadres in the independent parties accused in lawsuits which subject matter is related to freedom of speech and expression and political practice. The Centre’s lawyers have attended with the following
Amr Aly “Saturday the 4th of August, 2018 hearing”
The pre-trial detention of Amr Aly the former coordinator of the 6th of April Movement under case number 473 of the year 2014 – known as “Alliance to support legitimacy case” – was considered. Chamber 28 crimes south of Cairo, headed by Counsellor Hassan Farid has extended Mr. Aly’s pre-trial detention for a period of 45 days for investigations. Public Prosecution has accused Mr. Aly of joining a group that was established against law provisions. Taking into consideration that most of the defendants in this case were released.
Wael Abbas “Sunday the 5th of August, 2018 hearing”
The state security prosecution has considered the pre-trial detention of blogger Wael Abbas, who is being held in prison under lawsuit number 441 for the year 2018 known as “the case of media committees,” and decided to extend his pre-trial detention for 15 days for investigations. Public prosecution accused Mr. Abbas of participating with a terrorist group in achieving its objectives, broadcasting and publishing false news and the misuse of social media.
The health condition of Wael Abbas has been deteriorating after being held in prison in Tora. He was severely ill, feverish and unstable because he was suffering from problems in the mitral valve in the heart. After the last hearing the Public Prosecution has decided that he’s to be examined by the prison’s hospital and a medical report of his condition to be prepared. The same resolution was issued at the last session
Hazem Abd El Azim “Monday the 6th of August, 2018 hearing”
The state security prosecution has considered the pre-trial detention of the political activist Hazem Abd El Azim who is being held in prison under the lawsuit number 734 for the year 2018, and decided to extend his pre-trial detention for 15 days for further investigations. Public prosecution has accused Mr. Abd El Azim of broadcasting and publishing false news and the misuse of social media. Dr. Hazem Abd El Azim is suffering of sever back spine and joints pain, while the public prosecution has decided earlier that he gets presented before the orthopaedic specialist in the prison hospital, and after the spine radiation a report was issued by the hospital stating that he needs to have a اhip replacement surgery, but the prison administration is Intransigent in sending the report.
Islam Abd El Zaher “Monday the 6th of August, 2018 hearing”
The state security prosecution has considered the pre-trial detention of the lawyer Islam Abd el Zaher under the lawsuit number 434 for the year 2018 known as the ultras white nights case, and decided to extend his per-trial detention 15 days for further investigations State security public prosecution accused Mr. Zaher of joining a terrorist group. The lawyer Islam Abd El Zaher was held in detention for 5 days without any legal justification in one of the state security locations, and appeared before the state security prosecution on the 13th of June, 2018.
the lawyer Islam Abd El Zaher is suffering from bad conditions in in Matareya police station where he is detained due to the overcrowding, lack of space, and poor ventilation, which is causing him shortness of breath, the state security prosecution also extended the pre trial detention 15 days for other 5 accused persons: David Gad, Ahmad Essam, Gamal Mohammad, Ahmad Alaa Abbas and Fahd Nagah in the same case
Abeer El Safty “Monday the 6th of August, 2018 hearing”
The state security prosecution has considered the pre-trial detention of journalist Abeer El Safty under the lawsuit number 718 for the year 2018 known as the Metro detainees, and decided to extend her pre-trial detention for 15 days for further investigations. Public prosecution accused her of participating with a terrorist group in disrupting national security, disabling the enforcement of the constitution and law and participating in a protest disrupting the public transportation and harming the interests of citizens and some of detainees were also accused of using the social media to incite terrorist acts. It is worth mentioning that two of the defendants were released with personal security, in addition to the replacement of pre-trial detention with precautionary measures for four defendants in connection with the aforementioned lawsuit, also the state security prosecuter decided to extend the pre trial detention for 15 days for another to ladies: Farida Atef and Nafissa Abdelwahab in the same case
Shady El Ghazali Harb “Tuesday the 7th of August, 2018 hearing”
The state security prosecution has considered the pre-trial detention of political activist Shady El Ghazali Harb who is being detained under lawsuit number 621 for the year 2018, and has decided to extend his pre-trial detention for 15 days for further investigations. Public prosecution accused Mr. Harb of joining a terrorist group, broadcasting and publishing false news and the misuse of social media.
Shadi El Ghazali continues to suffer from solitary confinement in Al-Qanater prison for two months. He has not committed any administrative offense and has not been investigated for any misconduct during the period of his detention. There is no law requiring him to be held solitarily, all this is contrary to the regulation of prisons laws and regulations, which puts a 30 days maximum period for solitary detention, in addition to other guarantees stated by the law before the imposition of such punishment, the prisoner must be informed of the violation he committed and to investigate him and hear his defence. Also, he is prohibited from visiting the prison library and praying in the mosque. Moreover, he is prevented from exercising during the holidays. Shady El Ghazali’s Attorneys proved all the arbitrary and illegal measures practiced by the prison administration against him, hoping that the public prosecutor’s will intervene to end these violations.
Hatem Mohamed Bastawy “Tuesday the 7th of August, 2018 hearing”
The state security prosecution has considered the pre-trial detention of Hatem Mohamed Bastawy who is being detained under lawsuit number 718 for the year 2018 known as the Metro detainees, and decided to extend her pre-trial detention for 15 days for further investigations. Public prosecution accused him of joining a terrorist group and inciting on protesting.
The Egyptian Centre for Economic and Social rights is concerned and perplexed of the legal and humanitarian situation faced by prisoner of conscience, and political activists during their detention In particular the health conditions faced by a number of the Centre’s clients – for example – the leftist leader Gamal Abd El Fattah, the former presidential candidate and president of Masr El Qaweya Party Abd El Moneim Abou El Fetouh, and the deputy president of Masr El Qaweya Party Mohamed El Qassas.
