As part of the human rights violations committed by the Egyptian regime; the Egyptian Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of political activists Youssef Ali Abdel Rahman, known as “Joe the Legend”, and Haitham Ahmed Abdel Aziz, known as “Haitham Dabour”.
The Egyptian Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of “Joe the Legend”, a former member of the “April 6” movement, as well as the “Black Bloc” movement that emerged during the rule of the late President Mohamed Morsi, for 15 days.
The decision came in connection with Case No. 1391 of 2022, Supreme State Security Investigation, after he was charged with joining a terrorist group (the Muslim Brotherhood), inciting violence, and spreading false news and statements that harm the state.
“Joe the Legend” has been detained ten times with similar charges; and was also subjected to multiple instances of enforced disappearance during this time.
Along the same line, the Egyptian Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of “Haitham Dabour”, a member of the campaign of former parliamentarian Ahmed Al-Tantawi, who was seeking to run for the Egyptian presidential elections, in Alexandria Governorate, for 15 days, on charges of publishing posts in support of the Palestinian cause and criticizing the Egyptian government.
The decision came in connection with Case No. 1282 of 2024, Supreme State Security Investigation, in which he faces charges of publishing false news and information on his Facebook personnel account, misusing social media, and joining a terrorist group.
Egyptian security forces raided Haitham Dabour’s home on May 1, 2024, arrested him and took him to a National Security headquarters, as part of a campaign of arrests targeting citizens and activists for their support of the Palestinian cause. He remained forcibly disappeared for several days before appearing at the Supreme State Security Prosecution headquarters.
It is necessary for the international community and human rights organizations to pay attention to such cases and shed light on the violations that occur against journalists, lawyers, and human rights activists. The resumption of detention of political activists reflects the extent of the threat to which citizens in Egypt are exposed, the restriction of their freedom to express their opinions and share information, and the danger of the escalation resorted to by some regimes to silence critical voices.
It is noteworthy that thousands of people are being detained by the Egyptian authorities in politically motivated arrests; many of these individuals were found guilty and sentenced in unfair trials, or they were held without charge or trial for years on trumped-up charges related to terrorism, all in appalling conditions.
