• Urgent Action

Urgent Action: PROTESTER RISKS DECADES IN PRISON FOR T-SHIRT (Egypt 90.23)

March 25, 2024

Arbitrarily detained protester Mahmoud Hussein faces up to 25 years in prison simply for wearing a T-shirt with an anti-torture slogan back in January 2014. He was already arbitrarily detained from January 2014 to March 2016 in relation to the same case before being released on bail. Mahmoud Hussein was rearrested on August 30, 2023, and is currently detained at Badr 1 prison, pending trial in front of an emergency court over bogus terrorism-related and other charges. Prison authorities have been denying him access to adequate healthcare, including withholding medication he needs for his panic attacks, developed after he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment. He must be immediately and unconditionally released as his detention is solely linked to the exercise of his human rights. 

take action:

  • Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
  • Click here to let us know the actions you took on Second Urgent Action 90.23. It’s important to report because we share the total number with the officials we are trying to persuade and the people we are trying to help.

contact information:

Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky Ayyad 

Office of the Public Prosecutor

Madinat al-Rehab; Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt

Fax: +202 2577 4716;

Twitter: @EgyptianPPO

Egyptian Embassy in the United States

Ambassador Motaz Mounir Zahran

3521 International Court, NW,

Washington DC 20008

Phone: (202) 895-5400

Email:  [email protected]

 

sample letter:

Dear counselor,

I write to express my concern over the prolonged arbitrary detention of protester, Mahmoud Hussein. Security forces arrested him at a checkpoint on August 30, 2023, and subjected him to enforced disappearance at facilities controlled by the National Security Agency (NSA) for five days. He was subsequently transferred to the prosecution, which ordered his detention pending trial on bogus charges of membership in a terrorist group, possession of explosive devices and Molotov cocktails, and incitement to violence, which, if convicted, carry a maximum prison sentence of 25 years. The next hearing is scheduled for April 23, 2024. 

Mahmoud Hussein is currently detained in Badr 1 Prison, where Amnesty International has documented concerns regarding cruel and inhuman detention conditions and denial of adequate healthcare to prisoners. Prison authorities have failed to provide him with any mental health treatment and have withheld his prescribed medication for panic attacks, which developed during his previous incarceration, where he was subjected to torture and other ill-treatment.

I urge you to ensure Mahmoud Hussein’s immediate and unconditional release as his detention stems solely from the exercise of his right to freedom of expression and drop all charges against him. Pending his release, he must be granted regular access to his family, lawyers, and adequate healthcare.

Yours sincerely,

[YOUR NAME]

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: