Urgent Action Victory! – Peaceful Protestors And Activists Released (Egypt: UA 255.17)

Human rights activist and former Prisoner of Conscience Mahienour el-Masryand labour activist Moatasem Medhat acquitted of all charges by Montazah Misdemeanour Court of Appeals in Alexandria. They were respectively released on 16 January and 18 January.

On 13 January, human rights defender and former Prisoner of Conscience Mahienour el-Masry as well as labour activist Moatasem Medhat were acquitted of all charges by the Montazah Misdemeanour Court of Appeals in Alexandria. Egyptian authorities released Mahienour on 16 January and Moatasem on 18 January.

Egyptian authorities originally detained Mahienour el-Masry and Moatasem Medhat on 18 November 2017 and were sentenced on 30 December to two years in prison for their peaceful participation in a protest on charges of “participating in an unauthorized protest” and “show of forces”. The case dates back to 14 June 2017, where Mahineour and Moatasem participated in a protest in Alexandria against the ratification of an agreement by which Egypt ceded sovereignty over two islands in the red sea, Tiran and Sanafir, to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Security forces held Mahienour el-Masry originally in El-Qanater prison in greater Cairo, and later moved her to Damanhour women’s prison, 70 km east southeast of Alexandria. Security forces detained Moatasem Medhat in Borg el-Arab prison, near the city of Alexandria. The defendants’ lawyer filed an appeal and the Montazah Misdemeanour Court of Appeals scheduled a hearing on 13 January, where the court acquitted both of them.

Thank you to all those who sent appeals. No further action is requested from the UA network.

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