The Egyptian authorities continue the enforced disappearance of human rights activist MoaazAl-Sharqawi for the fourth consecutive day.
Moaz was arrested from his family home in Al-Muqattam area in Cairo for unknown reasons, his neighbours said.
Moaaz’s family has contacted the Public Prosecutor Hamada Al-Sawy, requesting an immediate investigation into his re-arrest, and disclosure of his place of detention.
In its communication No. 402994, the family said that security forces stormed Moaaz’s house at approximately 2 pm on Thursday, May 11, 2023, and took him to an unknown destination.”
The Public Prosecutor did not comment on the complaint till the time of writing.
Moaaz was previously arrested on September 19, 2018, from his workplace and forcibly disappeared for 25 days, where he was subjected to torture.
On October 15, 2018, he was brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, pending case No. 440 of 2018. He was later transferred to Tora Investigation Prison in Cairo, where he was held in room 2-2 Ward 4, the same room where the detainee Shadi Habshi breathed his last.
Moaaz was later released after two years of arbitrary detention.
On May 29, 2022, the Emergency Supreme State Security Court sentenced Moaz to 10 years in prison in absentia, and 5 years of probation in Case No. 440 of 2018.
On May 11, 2023, he was re-arrested and forcibly disappeared.
Moaaz’s arrest raises deep concerns over the human rights situation in the North African country, including the right to liberty and security of the person, the right to a lawyer, and the right to a fair trial.
Since President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi became into power; the Egyptian authorities have waged an unprecedented crackdown campaign on opponents and critics, arresting thousands of them under politically motivated charges, many of whom have been convicted and sentenced in unfair trials, or have been detained without trial for years on fabricated terrorism-related charges, amid poor detention conditions.
