Antécédents de l'affaire: Sanaa Seif
Le 15 novembre 2016, Sanaa Seif a été libérée de prison après avoir purgé 6 mois de prison.
Le 14 mai 2016, Sanaa Seif s'est rendue aux autorités pour purger sa peine de six mois de prison à laquelle elle a été condamnée le 4 mai 2016 pour avoir insulté un fonctionnaire. Sanaa Seif est actuellement détenue dans la prison pour femme Qanatar au Caire et n'est pas autorisée à recevoir de visites de sa famille pour un mois. Dans le cadre d'une autre procédure, le 27 avril 2016, la défenseuse a été convoquée devant le parquet du sud du Caire pour une audience relative à des accusations de complot visant à renverser le régime et distribution de tracts appelant à manifester.
Sanaa Seif est étudiante et défenseuse des droits humains; elle a activement participé aux manifestations pacifiques lors de la révolution égyptienne en 2011. Lorsqu'elle avait 17 ans, elle a lancé le journal indépendant "Al-gornal" avec quelques amis, pour aborder les questions au cœur du Printemps Arabe; le journal est rapidement devenu très populaire. Sanaa Seif appartient à une famille connue et très active politiquement; elle est la sœur du défenseur des droits humains M. Alaa Abd El Fattah.
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- À propos de
- 16 Novembre 2016 : Libération de Sanaa Seif après 6 mois de prison
- 20 Mai 2016 : Intensification de l'acharnement judiciaire contre les défenseur-ses des droits humains
- 5 Mai 2016 : Sanaa Seif condamnée à six mois de prison
- 24 Septembre 2015 : Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif released
- 29 Octobre 2014 : Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif sentenced to three years' imprisonment alongside 21 others
- 23 Octobre 2014 : Upcoming verdict in trial against Ms Sanaa Seif and Ms Yara Sallam
- 16 Septembre 2014 : Alaa Abd El Fattah released on bail as Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif remain in pre-trial detention
- 23 Juin 2014 : Extended detention of human rights defenders Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif
Le 15 novembre 2016, Sanaa Seif a été libérée de prison après avoir purgé 6 mois de prison pour avoir insulté un représentant de l'État. La défenseuse s'était rendue le 14 mai 2016 après avoir été condamnée le 4 mai 2016.
Entre avril et mai 2016, un nombre important d'arrestations arbitraires, de détentions abusives, de perquisitions illégales, de disparitions forcées, de violences et de procès inéquitables ciblant la société civile et les défenseur-ses des droits humains ont été recencées en Égypte. Avec plus de 300 arrestations au Caire, à Alexandrie et dans d'autres gouvernorats, la répression et les violations des droits humains perpétrées par les autorités ont atteint un niveau sans précédent. Ces arrestations ont été déclenchées par un appel à manifester lancé par les acteurs de société civile le 25 avril 2016 contre les exactions et les crimes commis par les forces, de sécurité, les politiques du régime au pouvoir et la récente décision du gouvernement de céder la souveraineté de deux iles de la Mer Rouge à l'Arabie Saoudite. Suite à cela, le 14 mai 2016, des tribunaux égyptiens ont condamné, en un seul jour, 152 militants pro-démocratie à des peines pouvant atteindre 5 ans de prison.
Les défenseur-ses des droits humains, dont Negad El Borai, Mohamed Nagui, Sanaa Seif, Malek Adly et Haytham Mohamadeen, sont les cibles directes des forces de sécurité et ont été accusés dans le cadre de différentes affaires d'avoir" insulté un fonctionnaire, délibérément propagé de fausses informations dans le but de troubler l'ordre public ou l'intérêt public, appelé à manifester pour renverser le régime et participé à une manifestation illégale".
Le 14 mai 2016, Sanaa Seif s'est rendue aux autorités pour purger sa peine de six mois de prison à laquelle elle a été condamnée le 4 mai 2016 pour avoir insulté un fonctionnaire. Sanaa Seif est actuellement détenue dans la prison pour femme Qanatar au Caire et n'est pas autorisée à recevoir de visites de sa famille pour un mois. Dans le cadre d'une autre procédure, le 27 avril 2016, la défenseuse a été convoquée devant le parquet du sud du Caire pour une audience relative à des accusations de complot visant à renverser le régime et distribution de tracts appelant à manifester.
Front Line Defenders réitère ses profondes préoccupations concernant la répression lancée par le gouvernement égyptien contre les défenseur-ses des droits humains et concernant la criminalisation de la société civile, et appelle à la fin immédiate des persécutions contre les défenseur-ses des droits humains.
Le 4 mai 2016, le tribunal El Sayeda Zeinab pour les mauvaises conduites au Caire a condamné Sanaa Seif à six mois de prison pour avoir insulté le système judiciaire. La défenseuse n'a pas assisté à l'audience le jour même, mais lorsque le verdict a été rendu elle s'est présentée elle même au poste de police d'El Sayeda Zeinab. Le parquet ne l'a pas placée en détention et lui a dit de revenir dans dix jours.
Sanaa Seif a été accusée de ne pas coopérer avec les autorités dans le cadre d'une enquête sur une manifestation contre le gouvernement le 25 avril 2016. La défenseuse est accusée d'avoir imprimé et distribué des tracts à la veille de la manifestation "Egypt is not for sale" (l'Égypte n'est pas à vendre), déclenchée par la décision du président Al-Sisi de céder deux iles à l'Arabie Saoudite. À l'approche de la manifestation, les forces de sécurité ont arrêté 300 personnes, dont de nombreux défenseur-ses des droits humains. Un grand nombre des personnes arrêtées font l'objet d'une enquête pour avoir participé au rassemblement.
Le 4 mai, Sanaa Seif a déclaré qu'elle avait abandonné son droit de faire appel car elle avait perdu la foi en ce système judiciaire. "Je n'ai simplement pas l'énergie de faire face à ces mesures" a-t-elle écrit dans un message sur facebook. "Ce n'est pas une marque de courage... tant qu'ils font tout pour m'impliquer, et étant donné que quoi qu'il arrive ils me feront payer, je préfère le faire tout en restant moi même".
Sanaa Seif a été libérée le 23 septembre 2015 après la grâce présidentielle de 165 prisonniers. Elle avait été arrêtée le 21 juin 2014 lors d'une manifestation contre la loi répressive sur les manifestations. Son frère, Alaa Abdel Fattah, est également emprisonné depuis février 2015.
Front Line Defenders est profondément préoccupée par le verdict rendu contre la défenseuse des droits humains Sanaa Seif, et exhorte les autorités égyptiennes à abandonner toutes les accusations qui pèsent contre elle. Elle condamne aussi la récente arrestation et la détention des défenseur-ses des droits humains en Égypte et exhorte les autorités à les libérer immédiatement.
On 23 September 2015 human rights defenders Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif were released following a presidential pardon of 165 prisoners, including minors, the majority of whom had been sentenced as a result of their peaceful participation in demonstrations in 2014.
Yara Sallam is a human rights researcher who works with the NGO Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). She was the winner of the 2013 North African Human Rights Defender Shield and a finalist for the 2015 Front Line Defenders Award.
Sanaa Seif is a 21-year-old student and political activist, who has participated in several protests in the defence of human rights. She is also a member of No to Military Trials for Civilians. Sanaa Saif and her family have faced harassment by the Egyptian authorities. During a protest on 16 December 2011, Sanaa Saif was arbitrarily arrested and briefly detained. In June 2014, her brother Alaa Abd El Fattah, a well-known blogger, was sentenced in absentia to 15 years' imprisonment and was then released on bail a few months later.
Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif were two of 23 human rights defenders and protesters sentenced by a Cairo Misdemeanour Court on 26 October 2014 to three years' imprisonment, a further three years' police monitoring, a fine of 10,000 Egyptian Pounds (approx. €1,098), and the payment of compensation for the damages caused. This sentence was later reduced on appeal on 28 December 2014 to two years' imprisonment, two years' monitoring and no fine.
The human rights defenders were arrested on 21 June 2014 during a demonstration against the repressive 'Protest Law', which they were accused of breaching by demonstrating without a permit, committing acts of violence, possession of inflammable material and Molotov cocktails, blocking a road, sabotaging public and private property, and belonging to the banned group 'April 6'.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif but expresses its concern for the ongoing harassment, persecution and arbitrary arrests of human rights defenders in Egypt, and the crackdown on freedom of expression.
On 26 October 2014, Cairo Misdemeanours Court sentenced 23 human rights defenders and protesters, including Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif, to 3 years' imprisonment, a further 3 years' police monitoring, a fine of 10,000 Egyptian Pounds (approx. €1,098) each, and the payment of compensation for the damages caused.
The trial took place at the Police Institute near Tora. Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif were in pre-trial detention since their arrest on 21 June 2014. The defence team immediately appealed the verdict and the appeal hearing is scheduled to take place on 9 November 2014.
Yara Sallam is a human rights researcher who currently works with the NGO Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). She is also the winner of the African Shield Human Rights Defenders in 2013. Sanaa Seif is a student who has participated in previous protests in the defence of human rights. The human rights defender was arbitrarily detained during Magles El Wuzara events on 16 December 2011, and was released on the same day. She is also member of No to Military Trials.
Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif were among 23 human rights defenders and protesters, including one minor, arrested on 21 June 2014 during a demonstration against the 'Protests Law' and were accused of breaching the 'Protests Law' by demonstrating without a permit, committing acts of violence, possession of inflammable material and Molotov cocktails, blocking a road, sabotaging public and private property, and belonging to the banned group 'April 6'. To read more about the case of Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, please click here.
This verdict comes as Egyptian civil society organisations and human rights defenders face a looming deadline of 10 November for compulsory registration under strict new rules developed by the Egyptian government. In a new Front Line Defenders video, Egyptian HRDs talk about the potential impact of this new regulation:
Front Line Defenders condemns the sentence handed down against Yara Sallam, Sanaa Seif and other human rights defenders in connection to the 'Protests Law'. It is believed that the verdict is related solely to the human rights defenders' peaceful and legitimate activities, particularly to protect the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
On 26 October 2014, a new hearing in the trial of seven women human rights defenders, including Ms Sanaa Seif and Ms Yara Sallam, will take place at the Police Institute near Tora. The human rights defenders remain in pre-trial detention since their arrest on 21 June 2014. They are currently being held in Qanater women’s prison.
Yara Sallam is a human rights researcher who currently works with the NGO Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). She is also the winner of the African Shield Human Rights Defenders in 2013. Sanaa Seif is a student who has participated in previous protests in the defence of human rights. Sanaa Seif was detained during mass protests in front of Magles El Wuzara (the Egyptian cabinet of ministers) on 16 December 2011, and was released on the same day. She is the sister of human rights defender Alaa Abd El Fattah. To read more about the case of Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, please click here.
The human rights defenders were among 24 persons arrested on 21 June 2014 during a demonstration against the 'Protests Law', and they were initially held in the Second Tagamo Police Station. Court proceedings against them started on 29 June 2014 and were immediately postponed to 13 September. In a hearing on 13 September 2014, Heliopolis Misdemeanour Court rejected the defence lawyer's request to release both human rights defenders on bail. The trial continued on 11 and 16 October, when the court heard final statements from the defence lawyers.
Front Line Defenders remains concerned at the unjustified and long pre-trial detention of Yara Sallam, Sanaa Seif, and other human rights defenders in connection to the 'Protests Law'. It is believed that these detentions are related solely to the human rights defender's peaceful and legitimate activities, particularly to protect the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
On 15 September 2014, Cairo Criminal Court ordered the release on bail of Mr Alaa Abd El Fattah upon payment of 5,000 Egyptian Pounds (approximately €540).
The court also ordered the investigation into the prosecutor's decision to show a private, family video recording that had been seized by the police from the human rights defender's computer during his arrest on 28 November 2013. The court decided to withdraw from the case and sent it to the Cairo Court of Appeals, which will decide which other court will hear the case on its merits.
Alaa Abd El Fattah is a human rights blogger. In 2005, the Manalaa blog he founded with his spouse and blogger activist, Ms Manal Bahey El Din, won the 2005 Deutsche Welle International & Reporters Without Borders Weblog. To read more about Alaa Abd El Fattah's case, please visit his page on the Front Line Defenders website.
In the hearing on 15 September 2014, the court argued that displaying a private recording constituted an infringement on Alaa Abd El Fattah's constitutional right to privacy. The court then ordered an investigation into the seizure and the showing of the private recording, which is said had no link to the case. At the end of the hearing, the court decided to step down, at the request of defence lawyers.
Yara SallamIn a separate hearing on 13 September 2014, Heliopolis Misdemeanour Court (convening at the local Police Academy) postponed the trial of Ms Yara Sallam, Ms Sanaa Seif and 22 others until 11 October 2014. In the hearing, the court rejected the defence lawyer's request to release both human rights defenders on bail. Court proceedings against them started on 29 June 2014 and were immediately postponed to 13 September.
Yara Sallam is a human rights researcher who currently works with the NGO Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). She is also the winner of the African Shield Human Rights Defenders in 2013. Sanaa Seif is a student who has participated in previous protests in the defence of human rights. The human rights defender was arbitrarily detained during mass protests in front of Magles El Wuzara (the Egyptian cabinet of ministers) on 16 December 2011, and was released on the same day. Sanaa Seif is also the sister of human rights defender Alaa Abd El Fattah. To read more about the case of Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, please click here.
These detentions are taking place in the context of a crackdown on human rights defenders in Egypt. In early September 2014, the 'Egypt Hunger Strike Campaign' was launched to condemn the detention of human rights defenders and political activists in Egypt. It also denounces the use of protest legislation, which was approved on 24 November 2013 by interim President Adly Mansour. Dozens of Egyptian human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and supporters joined the campaign, which gained momentum both inside and outside jail. In this context, Mr Ahmed Maher, former head of the 6 April Youth Movement, Mr Mohamed Adel, co-founder of the 6 April Youth Movement, and Mr Ahmed Douma, are currently serving three-year prison terms for allegedly holding unauthorised demonstrations. They are also currently on hunger strike.
Front Line Defenders welcomes the release of Alaa Abd El Fattah as well as the court decision to investigate the breach of his right to privacy. However, Front Line Defenders remains concerned at the ongoing detention of Yara Sallam, Sanaa Seif, and other human rights defenders in connection to the 'Protests Law'. It is believed that these detentions are related solely to the human rights defender's peaceful and legitimate activities, particularly to protect the rights to freedom of assembly and expression.
On 23 June 2014, the Public Prosecutor ordered that the detention of human rights defenders Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif be extended by four days. The day before, at 1pm, the human rights defenders were brought before the Public Prosecutor and accused of breaching the 'Protests Law' by demonstrating without a permit, committing acts of violence, possession of inflammable material and Molotov cocktails, blocking a road, sabotaging public and private property, and belonging to the banned group 'April 6'. The human rights defenders were among 24 persons arrested on 21 June 2014 during a demonstration against the 'Protests Law', and they are to be held in the Second Tagamo Police Station.
Yara Sallam is a human rights researcher who currently works with the NGO Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR). She is also the winner of the African Shield Human Rights Defenders in 2013. Sanaa Seif is a student who has participated in previous protests in the defence of human rights. The human rights defender was arbitrarily detained during Magles El Wuzara events on 16 December 2011, and was released on the same day. Sanaa Seif is also the sister of human rights defender Mr Alaa Abd El Fattah, who was sentenced in absentia on 11 June 2014 to 15 years' imprisonment and a fine of LE100,000 (€10,300 approximately) on charges including attacking a police officer and protesting illegally.
Twenty-three of the individuals arrested at the protest have had their detention extended by four days and one was released on bail. A decision on whether to charge the human rights defenders is expected shortly. The human rights defenders' lawyer, Mr Mohamed Khedr, has highlighted inconsistencies in the testimonies of witnesses for the prosecution, as well as within the police's own statements. In particular, the police secretary accused the protesters of damaging a police vehicle at 9:30pm on 21 June 2014, despite the demonstrators having been arrested at 5:30pm that day outside a kiosk when they were not present at the protest, and a police report having been filed against them at 9:30pm. The police found no inflammable objects within the possession of the demonstrators.
During the interrogations, the human rights defenders were questioned by members of the national security agency. They were asked whether they belonged to political groups and whether they had previously participated in demonstrations. Reportedly, although Yara Sallam's cousin was released after interrogation, the human rights defender was kept in detention after declaring that she works at EIPR.
The human rights defenders are two of several Egyptian human rights defenders, such as Maheinour Al Masry, who have been targeted through the 'Protests Law' (Law no 107 of 2013 on the Right to Public Meetings, Processions and Peaceful Demonstrations). The law was approved on 24 November 2013 by interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour and has been condemned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, as well as the UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and association, Maina Kiai.
Front Line Defenders is concerned at the accusation brought against human rights defenders Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif, and at their extended detention, as a result of their legitimate and peaceful human rights activities.
