Take action for Ahmed Abdallah

Your Excellency,

On 5 September 2016, Cairo Criminal Court extended the detention of human rights defender Ahmed Abdallah, and his four detained co-defendants, for a further 45 days. He has been accused of ten charges including, possession of leaflets with intent to incite violence, calling to overthrow the regime and change the constitution, and the promotion by indirect ways and through the web of terrorist offences. Ahmed Abdallah has been detained in Tagamu police station in Cairo since his arrest on 25 April and has reportedly been mistreated in detention, while also suffering from knee and back problems.

Ahmed Abdallah is an Egyptian human rights defender, founder and board director of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), an independent organisation working on the promotion of democracy, religious freedom and minority rights in Egypt, as well as on spreading human rights knowledge through documentation, campaigns and legal support.

On 5 September 2016, Ahmed Abdallah appeared before the Cairo Criminal Court, which decided to extend his detention for a further 45 days. This comes after the prosecution appealed the decision of the Misdemeanor Appeals Court which ordered his release on bail, pending a 10,000 Egyptian pounds payment (approximately 1,000 euros) on 3 September.  Abdallah plans to appeal this decision on 3 October.

Previously on 25 April, Ahmed Abdallah was seized from his house by armed security forces. The armed officers confiscated his laptop and mobile phone. He was transferred to First Nasr City police station in Cairo, following an arrest warrant issued against him by the East Cairo Prosecution. 

I am concerned by the recent spate of arrests and detentions against human rights defenders in Egypt and I urge the Egyptian authorities to grant their immediate release.

I urge the authorities in Egypt to:

1. Immediately release, and drop charges against Ahmed Abdallah;

2. Return the items confiscated during the raid, as they are manifestly not linked to any criminal activity;

3. Investigate reports of ill-treatment against the human rights defender, and adopt immediate measures to ensure his protection;

4. Put an end to the ongoing mass arrests against human rights defenders in Egypt and immediately release those detained;

5. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Egypt are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

Sincerely,