Case History: Ahmed Said
Ahmed Said was released on the morning of 18 November from al-Aqrab prison in Egypt after receiving Presidential pardon. He was among 82 young detainees to have been pardoned by the President. Egyptian security forces arrested Ahmed Said on 19 November 2015. On 27 January 2016, the Abdeen Misdemeanor Appeals Court in Cairo sentenced Ahmed Said to two-years in prison for peaceful protest commemorating the anniversary of the 2011 Mohamed Mahmoud violence.
Ahmed Said is an independent human rights defender, poet and surgeon who provided medical treatment to those attacked by security forces during the 2011 Egyptian Revolution.
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- 18 February 2016 : Imprisoned human rights defender Dr Ahmed Said placed in solitary confinement
- 27 January 2016 : Prison sentence against Dr Ahmed Said and four other activists upheld
- 14 December 2015 : Ahmed Said sentenced to two years' imprisonment
- 25 November 2015 : Detention of human rights defender Ahmed Said
On 17 February 2016, human rights defender Dr Ahmed Said was transferred to solitary confinement by al-Aqrab prison authorities and prohibited from receiving visitors for one month. On the same date, the human rights defender's family were denied access to Ahmed Said, and food brought by them to be given to the human rights defender was rejected by prison authorities. The family were given no reason for the denial of their visit, but were instructed to wait for one month before attempting to visit again. To date, no reason has been given for the imposition of the disciplinary measure against the human rights defender.
On 27 January 2016, the Abdeen Misdemeanor Appeals Court in Cairo upheld the sentencing of Admed Said to two years' imprisonment for participating in a protest without a permit on the 4th anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud incidents. The human rights defender was originally convicted at the Abdeen Misdemeanor Court on 13 December 2015. He wasarrested by security forces on 19 November 2015 near Mohamed Mahmoud Street, and taken to Abdeen police station, where, according to his family and friends, he was blindfolded, beaten, subjected to electric shocks and burned with cigarettes while under interrogation.
Al-Aqrab prison is known for its horrific conditions and human rights violations. The detention centre has witnessed numerous hunger strikes from detainees in response to their degrading and inhuman treatment at the hands of prison authorities, as well as the denial of their basic needs such as food, and visitation rights.
On 27 January 2016, the Abdeen Misdemeanor Appeals Court in Cairo upheld the sentence of two years' imprisonment issued in December 2015 against human rights defender Dr Ahmed Said and four activists, Messrs Mostafa Ibrahim Mohamed Ahmed, Karim Khaled Fathy, Mohamed Abdel-Hamid and Ms Gamila Seryel-Dain, for participating in a protest without a permit on the 4th anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud incidents.
The human rights defender was arrested on 19 November 2015, shortly after a protest on the same date, which had called for accountability for victims of human rights violations during the repression of protests which took place in Mohamed Mahmoud street between 19 and 24 November 2011.
He was taken to Abdeen police station and interrogated by security officials, who charged him with protesting without permission, taking part in a gathering of more than five people and obstructing public ways, as well as possession of publications containing information disturbing public order. According to his family and friends, the human rights defender was blindfolded, beaten, subjected to electric shocks and burned with cigarettes on his hand while under interrogation on the day of his arrest.
On 21 November 2015, the Abdeen prosecution extended the detention of Ahmed Said and the four activists for four days pending investigation. Their detention was subsequently renewed for 15 days, and on 13 December 2015, the Abdeen Misdemeanour Court sentenced them to two years' imprisonment.
On 13 December the Abdeen Misdemeanour Court in Cairo sentenced human rights defender Ahmed Said to two years in prison with four other protesters, for participating in a protest without a permit on the fourth anniversary of the Mohamed Mahmoud incidents.
The human rights defender was arrested on 19 November 2015 shortly after the protest, which called for accountability for victims of human rights violations during the Mohamed Mahmoud incidents, the repression of protests which took place in Mohamed Mahmoud street between 19 and 24 November 2011.
On 19 November 2015 Ahmed Said was arrested by security forces near Mohamed Mahmoud street, along with three other protesters, and taken to Abdeen police station. He was blindfolded and interrogated by security officials, who charged him with protesting without permission, taking part in a gathering of more than five people and obstructing public ways, as well as possession of publications that contain information disturbing public order. Ahmed Said and the other protesters appeared before Abdeen prosecution on 20 November 2015. On 21 November 2015 the prosecution ordered their detention for four days pending investigation. One day later a judge ordered their release on a bail of LE3000 (approx. €359). However, following an appeal by the Public Prosecution, their detention was renewed for 15 days.
On 19 November 2015 security forces arrested human rights defender Ahmed Said in Cairo shortly after a peaceful protest commemorating the anniversary of the 2011 Mohamed Mahmoud violence.
For six days between November 19 and 24 2011, Egypt's Central Security Forces suppressed protests in Tahrir Square and Mohamed Mahmoud Street. The protests began after the riot police dispersed a sit-in organised by families of victims killed and injured in Tahrir Square at the start of the 2011 revolution. More than 40 people were killed in what is now referred to simply as "Mohamed Mahmoud."
On 19 November 2015, the four year anniversary of the violence, a protest in Cairo called for accountability for victims of human rights violations during the Mohamed Mahmoud incidents.
Security forces arrested Ahmed Said along with three other activists by near Mohamed Mahmoud Street after he participated in the peaceful protest, and took him to Abdeen police station. He was blindfolded and interrogated by security officials, who charged him with protesting without permission, taking part in a gathering of more than five people and obstructing public ways, as well as possession of publications that contain information disturbing public order.
Ahmed Said and the other activists appeared before Abdeen prosecution on 20 November 2015. On 21 November 2015 the prosecution ordered their detention for four days pending investigation. One day later a judge ordered their release on a bail of LE3000 (approx. €359). However, following an appeal by the Public Prosecution, their detention was renewed for 15 days. If the charges against him are confirmed, Ahmed Said faces up to 3 years imprisonment.
