Despite having finished the pre-trial detention period, and his deteriorating health conditions, the Egyptian Cairo Criminal Court (First Circuit Terrorism) decided to renew the detention of journalist Tawfiq Ghanem and three others, for an additional 45 days.
The case No. 238 of 2021 includes journalist Tawfiq Ghanem, 68, Sameh Al-Sayed Mukhtar, Ayman Rabie Hamdan, and Mohamed Hassan Hilal. The detention was renewed for all the detainees on charges of “joining a terrorist group and sharing fake news and misuse of social media,” which are charges that the Egyptian regime uses to harass its critics.
During the session, Ghanem’s defence team renewed its demand for his released on health grounds, stressing that there are no fears of his escape. However, the request was rejected again. Another request to release him for exceeding the legal period of pre-trial detention set by Egyptian law at a maximum of two years was also rejected. Thdefencese team considered his detention arbitrary, as he had finished the pre-trial period by one year.
Tawfiq Ghanem suffers from an enlarged prostate, in addition to severe pain the bones after having surgical operations and being unable to complete his treatment due to his arrest. He also suffers from diabetes, which requires special health care inside the prison.
The Egyptian authorities had arrested Tawfiq Ghanem on May 22, 2021, from his home in Giza Governorate. He disappeared for two days at the National Security Service Headquarters (formerly State Security) and appeared at the State Security Prosecution headquarter in Cairo on May 26, 2021.
Ghanem was presented to the prosecution, which decided to detain him for 15 days, and his detention was renewed several times until he was presented beforw the judge.
Egyptian law stipulates that the detention of accused persons shall be renewed before the Supreme State Security Prosecution for a period of 10 sessions, with a renewal of detention for a period of 15 days in each session. After the completion of 150 days, the authority to renew detention is transferred to a criminal department before the opposition judge to consider renewals of detention.
It is noteworthy that Ghanem held several media and journalistic positions, most notably the director of the regional office of the Anadolu News Agency in Cairo, until retired in 2015. He also headed a number of media institutions, most notably “International Media,” which managed the “Islam Online” website for ten years.
Dozens of Egyptian journalists have been in prison since Sisi took power in the country, as the Egyptian authorities launch an unprecedented campaign of repression against opponents and critics, which requires the intervention of human rights organisations and the international community to put an end to the Egyptian regime’s ongoing violations.
