Arrest and arbitrary detention of Khaled Mahmoud
On 23 July, the Criminal Court of Cairo ordered Khaled Mahmoud's release on probation. This decision was taken after the Prosecution's appeal against his release on probation was rejected on 22 July 2019.
On 28 March 2019, Egypt’s State Security Prosecution ordered the renewal of the pre-trial detention of Khaled Mahmoud, referring to the case 1739/2018.
On 31 January, Egypt’s State Security Prosecution ordered the detention of human rights defender Khaled Mahmoud for 15 days pending further investigation on charges of ‘taking part in illegal assembly’, ‘misusing social media’ and ‘collaborating with a terrorist organisation’ .
Khaled Mahmoud is a human rights defender and active member in different civil and protest movements including 6th of April Movement. His activities have focused on the rights of prisoners and students and the right to political participation.
On 23 July, the Criminal Court of Cairo ordered Khaled Mahmoud's release on probation. This decision was taken after the Prosecution's appeal against his release on probation was rejected on 22 July2019.
On 28 March 2019, Egypt’s State Security Prosecution ordered the renewal of the pre-trial detention of Khaled Mahmoud, referring to the case 1739/2018. Since his arrest on 27 January 2019, the human rights defender has faced charges of ‘taking part in illegal assembly’, ‘misusing social media’ and ‘collaborating with a terrorist organisation’.
On 31 January, Egypt’s State Security Prosecution ordered the detention of human rights defender Khaled Mahmoud for 15 days pending further investigation on charges of ‘taking part in illegal assembly’, ‘misusing social media’ and ‘collaborating with a terrorist organisation’.
Khaled Mahmoud is a human rights defender and active member in different civil and protest movements including 6th of April Movement. His activities have focused on the rights of prisoners and students and the right to political participation.
On the night of Sunday 27 January, Khaled Mahmoud was arrested along with four other activists from a house in Haram street in Giza. They were arrested following their participation in an event organised by Al-Karama Political Party to commemorate the 8th anniversary of the 2011 Revolution.
The human rights defender was detained in an unknown location until his interrogation before the State Security Prosecution on 30 and 31 January. The Prosecution ordered that he be detained for 15 days pending an investigation in relation to charges of ‘taking part in illegal assembly, ‘misusing social media’ and ‘collaborating with a terrorist organisation’.
Khaled Mahmoud was transferred to the Central Security Forces Camp ‘Kilo 10.5’, which is located on the Cairo-Alexandria desert road. His family is concerned for his health, as the human rights defender continues to require special medical care following open heart surgery.
The human rights defender has been under surveillance and judicial harassment for the past two years. His house in Helwan, a southern suburb of Cairo, was stormed and inspected several times in early 2017 by members of the National Security Service. He was also detained twice in that period – in January and again in February – and charged in two separate cases before being released on bail.
In 2016, he was charged in a separate case in connection with his human rights activities and received a three year prison sentence in absentia, which was confirmed in March 2017.
Front Line Defenders is seriously concerned about the detention of Khaled Mahmoud and is seriously concerned for his safety and physical well-being.
