Newsletter Summary:
- The Second Terrorism Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court hears prosecution witnesses in a case despite the absence of 6 defendants.
- Assault on film director Omar Salah inside his cell by another inmate; the prison administration transfers the assailant.
- Detention of a child renewed before the State Security Prosecution, and detention of other defendants renewed despite their failure to appear on screen before the Terrorism Circuit of the Criminal Court.
- Appointment of Judge Rabie Ahmed Mohamed Labna as President of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council.
- The Bar Association forms the Disciplinary Committee, consisting of three members of the General Syndicate’s Council alongside the heads of the Menofia and North Qalyubia sub-syndicates.
- Transferring of 40 prisoners of Sharqia Governorate to various prisons.
- An urgent appeal regarding the detention conditions of activist Mohamed Adel and his hunger strike.
Bulletin Items:
First: Trials:
The first half of July 2026 witnessed trials in which approximately 1,235 citizens appeared across 44 cases, mostly State Security felonies. These were held before the Terrorism Circuits at Badr Prison (“Badr Court Complex in Badr Prison”) and included the trial of Dr. Omnia Sweidan on charges of publishing false news. Some of these trials exhibited legal flaws and a lack of fair trial standards, including:
- Hearing prosecution witnesses in the absence of some defendants compromises confrontation and defense guarantees: On July 13, the Second Terrorism Circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court at Badr Prison, presided over by Counselor Wagdy Abdel Moneim, heard three prosecution witnesses in Case No. 4133 of 2025 (Al-Tagamoa Felonies), known media-wise as the “Muslim Brotherhood Administrative Structure” case. This took place despite the absence of 6 defendants from the hearing. The court’s decision to hear witnesses in the absence of the accused raises issues regarding fair trial guarantees. A defendant’s presence at trial hearings, especially during the testimony of prosecution witnesses, is a fundamental guarantee to exercise their right to confront the evidence against them and cross-examine witnesses through their defense. Proceeding with witness testimonies in the absence of some defendants may also undermine the principle of confrontation and equal opportunity between opposing parties.
- Argument between the court and the defense of cartoonist Ashraf Omar regarding his attendance: On July 13, the trial session of cartoonist Ashraf Omar witnessed an argument between the defense and the presiding judge, Judge Wagdy Abdel Moneim. This occurred after the cartoonist’s defense requested that the judge verify his presence in the dock, as the defense could not see him. Initially, the presiding judge ruled that the defendant was present. However, upon the defense’s insistence on verifying his presence, the court backtracked and recorded his absence. This incident highlights the importance of carefully verifying the presence of defendants before commencing trial proceedings. A defendant’s attendance is a core guarantee of a fair trial, directly linked to their right to follow their trial proceedings, communicate with their defense, and confront evidence and witnesses.
Second. Pre-trial Detention and its Violations:
Renewal of pre-trial detention of a “juvenile” before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on terrorism charges:
The continued pre-trial detention of a child in a security-related case underscores the vital importance of adhering to special guarantees for children during investigation and trial stages. Juvenile criminal justice is built on the principles of protection, care, and prioritizing non-custodial measures whenever possible. It requires ensuring all procedural guarantees are met, including enabling the child to communicate effectively with their defense, considering their age and psychological state, and ensuring that pre-trial detention remains an exceptional measure of absolute necessity in line with legal codes and international standards for child rights. In violation of this, State Security Prosecutor Mohamed Essam renewed the detention of the child, Reda Mohamed Mirghani, for 15 days in Case No. 663 of 2026 (Supreme State Security State Registry) on charges of joining a terrorist group and committing a terrorism-financing crime.
Detention of defendants renewed despite their failure to appear on the designated display screen:
Despite the failure of some defendants to appear on the screen designated for detention renewal hearings, Judge Wagdy Abdel Moneim, President of the Second Terrorism Circuit, decided to continue the detention of all those presented in connection with Supreme State Security Prosecution cases. During the session, students Karim Yasser Abdel Shafi and Ibrahim Khaled Al-Taman failed to appear via video link from their place of detention in Jamasa High Security Prison 2. Both are detained in connection with Case No. 851 of 2025 (Supreme State Security). Issuing a collective decision to continue detention despite the non-appearance of some defendants raises questions about whether individual assessments are being conducted for each case, given that pre-trial detention is an exceptional measure that must undergo serious and specific judicial review for every individual defendant.
Third: Activities of the Judicial Authority (Negative or Positive):
- A) The Judicial Council:
Selection of a new President for the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council:
On June 30, Judge Rabie Ahmed Mohamed Labna took the constitutional oath before President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi after being selected as the new President of the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council, succeeding Counselor Assem Abdel Latif Al-Ghaish. The selection of a new President for the Court of Cassation and the Supreme Judicial Council represents one of the most prominent institutional developments within the judiciary, carrying the responsibility of managing the highest ordinary judicial body and supervising judicial affairs. This appointment derives its importance from its connection to the principle of judicial independence. This requires that the Council’s judicial and administrative powers be exercised in a manner that bolsters the independence of judges, maintains judicial impartiality, and upholds the guarantees of the rule of law and the separation of powers as core pillars for achieving justice and protecting rights and freedoms.
Judges’ Club complaint highlights the balance between protecting the judiciary and media freedom:
On July 12, the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Judges’ Club announced that it had submitted a complaint to the Public Prosecutor and the President of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation against the legal representative of the Sada El-Balad TV channel, as well as journalists Mostafa Bakry and Mohamed Al-Baz, following media coverage concerning the case of the resigned Minister of Culture. This incident reflects a reliance on legal and institutional mechanisms to resolve disputes regarding media content, allowing competent authorities to assess whether the media coverage complied with the law and professional standards. Conversely, it remains essential that such complaints are handled within a framework that preserves the balance between protecting the reputation and independence of the judiciary and guaranteeing the freedom of the press and media, in line with constitutional provisions and international standards of free expression, without imposing unjustified restrictions on journalistic work or the flow of information.
- B) Lawyers:
The Disciplinary Department of the Bar Association: Between institutional regulation and fair trial guarantees:
On July 12, the Bar Association issued a decision tasking the administration of the Disciplinary Department to three members of the General Syndicate’s Council alongside the heads of the Menofia and North Qalyubia sub-syndicates. The Association’s decision carries special importance for disciplinary accountability guarantees, reflecting a move toward distributing powers in a way that may expedite the resolution of disciplinary matters and enhance institutional performance. However, the effectiveness of this decision remains contingent on ensuring the independence and impartiality of those overseeing disciplinary proceedings. It requires full adherence to fair disciplinary trial guarantees, foremost among which are the lawyer’s right to defense, to be heard, to have access to investigation files, and to receive reasoned disciplinary decisions with the right to appeal, thereby balancing the accountability of syndicate members with the protection of the independence of the legal profession and the rights of its members.
IV. Prisons and Prisoners:
Exiling (transferring) of 40 citizens from Sharqia Governorate to various prisons:
In a continuation of the practice of exiling prisoners, the period covered by this newsletter witnessed security forces in Sharqia Governorate transferring 40 citizens held in pre-trial detention by decision of the Public Prosecution. They were moved from their detention centers at the Belbeis and Zagazig police stations to the Damanhour High Security Prison and the Kafr Saqr Center Prison in Sharqia Governorate. Such transfer procedures necessitate the consideration of humanitarian and legal factors, as well as notifying the detainees’ families and lawyers of their new location of detention, ensuring that defense rights are not compromised and additional burdens are not placed on families and lawyers.
An urgent appeal regarding the detention conditions of activist Mohamed Adel and his hunger strike:
Rofayda Hamdi, the wife of activist Mohamed Adel, published an urgent appeal on her social media page, reporting that her husband had entered an open-ended hunger strike and expressed an intention to self-harm, according to what was conveyed from him. This is in protest of what she described as harassment he faces, his continuous detention for over 12 years, and being deprived of exercise and leaving his cell following an assault he was subjected to in January 2026. These allegations highlight the obligation of detention authorities to guarantee the physical and psychological safety of detainees and to take necessary measures to prevent any risks to their lives or health, especially in cases of hunger strikes or expressed intentions of self-harm. It also emphasizes the need to enable detainees to exercise their basic rights within places of detention, including physical exercise, healthcare, and humane treatment, while conducting independent and effective investigations into any allegations of assault or mistreatment, and ensuring that detention conditions are not used as a means of pressure or extrajudicial punishment.
Assault on film director Omar Marei by an inmate, and the prison administration transfers the assailant:
The family of director and novelist Omar Marei, who is in pre-trial detention in connection with Case No. 3835 of 2026 (State Security), announced that he was assaulted and beaten inside his cell at Tenth of Ramadan Prison 6 by another inmate. The family described the assailant as holding extremist and hostile views toward art and artists. In a step taken by the prison administration following the incident, measures were taken to transfer the individual who assaulted Omar.
Denial of healthcare to prisoner of conscience Shady Mohamed: The responsibility of the Ministry of Interior and Judge Wagdy Abdel Moneim:
Despite three months having passed since labor unionist Shady Mohamed and his lawyers requested an X-ray to determine the extent of his shoulder injury and his need for treatment, the Ministry of Interior continues to stall and procrastinate. It claims that the prison where he is held (“Borg El-Arab Prison”) does not have an X-ray machine, and that the machine at Wadi El-Natrun Prison (“about 150 km away”) is out of order. Subsequently, his family’s request to transfer him to any hospital at their own expense was rejected. This persists despite repeated requests from his family and lawyers to Judge Wagdy Abdel Moneim, who is presiding over his detention renewal hearings, even though the detainee has exceeded the maximum limit for pre-trial detention. He was arrested in April 2024, meaning he has been an illegal prisoner since May 2026. Nevertheless, he remains detained and deprived of receiving medical treatment, under the responsibility of both the Ministry of Interior and Judge Wagdy Abdel Moneim, who oversees his detention renewals but fails to exercise his authority to order treatment or penalize those withholding it.