Case History: Yara Sallam
On 23 September 2015 human rights defenders Ms Yara Sallam was released following a presidential pardon of 165 prisoners. She had been arrested on 21 June 2014 during a demonstration against the repressive 'Protest Law'.
Yara Sallam is a prominent feminist activist and human rights defender, who has worked for several Egyptian and international human rights organisations. In 2013, she documented the violent repression of anti-government protests, which led to the deaths of over 1000 people. She provided technical assistance and commentary to a government committee formed to investigate the events of 2013 and led a project to document violations in Egypt over the past 30 years to develop an institutional memory of the events that led to the popular uprising in 2011.
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- 24 Setembro 2015 : Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif released
- 30 Dezembro 2014 : Two Year Jail Sentence in Appeal for Yara Sallam and 23 Other Protesters
- 29 Outubro 2014 : Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif sentenced to three years' imprisonment alongside 21 others
- 23 Outubro 2014 : Upcoming verdict in trial against Ms Sanaa Seif and Ms Yara Sallam
- 16 Setembro 2014 : Alaa Abd El Fattah released on bail as Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif remain in pre-trial detention
- 23 Junho 2014 : Extended detention of human rights defenders Ms Yara Sallam and Ms Sanaa Seif
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.
The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Network (EMHRN), the Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders (joint FIDH-OMCT programme) and Front Line Defenders strongly condemn the two year jail sentence handed down by the appeal court, sitting in New Cairo Police Academy, on Sunday 28 December 2014 for Ms. Yara Sallam, Transitional Justice Officer at the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) and 23 other young activists, including Ms. Sanaa Seif, a member of the “No to Military Trials for Civilians” movement and sister of blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, for allegedly violating Egypt’s controversial Protest Law.
Since its implementation in 2013, Egypt’s Protest Law has been increasingly used to suppress and imprison political activists and dissenters, as well as human rights defenders. The judgement and sentence in this case is yet another example of the Egyptian judiciary effectively shutting down the democratic means by which citizens can question and/or criticise the current regime.
Human rights groups across Egypt and internationally have called the charges against Yara Sallam and the other activists baseless, describing the case as yet another “show-trial” based on scant evidence and intended to warn citizens against defying government policies.
Despite the lack of any credible evidence and clear inconsistencies in the police reports of the events which took place on 21 June 2013 outside Itihadeya Palace, on 26 October 2014, a Misdemeanor Court sentenced Yara Sallam and the other defendants to three years in prison, three years of probation, and an LE 10,000 fine for breaching the repressive Protest Law and other trumped-up charges including damaging property and “displaying force”. The judgement handed down by the Appeal Court on 28 December 2014 reduced this sentence to two years, cancelled the fine and reduced the period of police surveillance following release to two years.
The EMHRN, the Observatory and Front Line Defenders call for this verdict and sentence to be immediately overturned, the 23 defendants to be immediately released, the Protest Law to be repealed or amended to allow for proper freedom of assembly in Egypt in accordance with international standards, and for the judiciary to assert its independence from the Egyptian authorities and to ensure the implementation, promotion and protection of the rule of law.
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.
In 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.
[Sanaa Seif] Sanaa SeifThese 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.
