Egyptian journalist Ahmed Subaie, currently imprisoned, is reportedly suffering from severe health complications, according to his family. During a court session on May 27, his lawyers informed that Subaie is now classified as a heart patient, a condition he didn’t have at the time of his arrest.
His family expressed concern over his deteriorating health as Subaie struggles with severe knee problems, a herniated disc, degeneration of the vertebrae, and significant vision loss.
Iman Mahrous, Subaie’s wife, squarely places the responsibility of his wellbeing on the administration of Badr 3 prison and the Ministry of Interior. She has urgently appealed to the Press Syndicate to demand his immediate transfer to “Badr 1” prison and provision of necessary medical care. Mahrous also urged the Attorney General and relevant authorities to secure his immediate release, backed by the syndicate’s guarantee.
Mahrous expressed disbelief at her husband’s current health plight, considering he had no such issues prior to his arrest almost eight years ago. She voiced surprise at his placement in a high-security prison despite his declining health.
Subaie was first apprehended in late 2013, kept in detention for about three years before being acquitted by the court, only to be arrested again. Following the end of his pretrial detention, he was presented to the court where he currently attends hearings, having spent a total of 8 non-consecutive years in pretrial detention.
On February 28, 2020, Subaie was arrested by Egyptian authorities near Al-Hamd mosque in the fifth settlement. He was then investigated and detained under case No. 1360 of 2019, High State Security, on accusations of disseminating and publishing false news and statements, misusing social media platform “Facebook”, and involvement in a terrorist group’s activities, charges commonly levied by the Egyptian regime against critics.
Subaie had a prior arrest in 2013 on similar charges, including publishing false news and association with a banned group under case 2210 of 2014/59 of 2014, infamously referred to as “Rabaa Operations Room”. He was held in solitary confinement for about four years until the Cairo Criminal Court declared him innocent and dismissed the charges against him on May 16, 2017. Subaie was released, only to be arrested again in February 2020.
As per the 2023 World Press Freedom Index by “Reporters Without Borders”, Egypt ranks 166 out of 180 countries, indicating severe press restrictions.
The Sisi regime has seen numerous Egyptian journalists imprisoned as part of an intensified crackdown on dissenters and critics.
