On October 31, 2023, human rights lawyer, Hoda Abdelmoniem, was due to be released after serving her unjust five-year prison sentence stemming solely from the exercise of her human rights. Instead, the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) ordered her pretrial detention pending investigations into similar bogus terrorism-related charges in a separate case No. 730 of 2020. During a rare visit to 10th of Ramadan prison on January 4, her family learned that her health continues to deteriorate and that she developed an ear infection, affecting her balance and sight. She must be immediately and unconditionally released.
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Contact information:
President Abdelfattah al-Sisi
Office of the President, Al Ittihadia Palace
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt; Fax: +202 2391 1441
Email: [email protected]; Twitter: @AlsisiOfficial
Egyptian Embassy in the United States
Ambassador Motaz Mounir Zahran
3521 International Court, NW, Washington DC 20008
Email: [email protected]
Salutation: Dear Ambassador Motaz Mounir Zahran
sample letter:
Your Excellency, or Dear Ambassador,
Human rights lawyer Hoda Abdelmoniem, 64, has been arbitrarily detained for over five years, solely in relation to her human rights work. On October 31, 2023, she was due to be released after serving her five-year unjust prison sentence, which convicted her of terrorism and other bogus charges following a grossly unfair trial. Instead, she was taken before a Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) prosecutor, who interrogated her in relation to a separate case No. 730 of 2020 and ordered her pretrial detention for 15 days pending investigations into bogus terrorism-related charges. This abusive practice is commonly referred to as “rotation”, when individuals held for political reasons are accused of similar charges in new cases to keep them detained indefinitely, even when prosecutors or judges order their release, or after they have served their sentence.
On January 4, 2024, her family visited her in 10th of Ramadan prison and learned that she was diagnosed with an ear infection that impairs her balance and sight. This was the first time that authorities allowed her a family visit since June 8, 2023. Hoda Abdelmoniem’s health has been deteriorating throughout her detention.
I urge you to ensure that Hoda Abdelmoniem is immediately and unconditionally released and that all charges against her are dropped as they stem solely from the exercise of her human rights.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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