Civil Society in Egypt… October 2023
Parties, Syndicates and Human Rights

Section One: Egyptian Political Parties

 

Introduction:

 

The activities of Egyptian political parties during October ranged from preparing for the presidential elections, which began its initial phase with the announcement of the National Elections Authority, to the issuance of nomination endorsements starting on September 25, 2023, and ending on October 14. The potential candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi faced harassment and pressure as he was considered the front-runner in the competition, leading to his withdrawal from the race.

 

Then, the events of the conflict in occupied Palestine unfolded, initially between the resistance and Israeli occupation forces. Subsequently, the attack on Gaza began, leading to widespread protest demonstrations in support of the resistance and condemnation of the aggression, which resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, mostly children and women.

 

Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):

 

The Homeland Future Party rallied numerous members and supporters to arrange musical and promotional events in celebration of and in support of President Sisi’s bid for a third term in the presidential elections. The party initiated this mobilization with the backing of security authorities to gather endorsements for the President.

 

The governorates of Qalyubia, Mansoura, and Cairo witnessed protests and gatherings in front of notarization offices to create ceremonial endorsements for President Sisi under the protection of security forces.

 

Among its activities was the distribution of food supplies and money to citizens, motivating them to grant endorsements during the first half of October.

 

• On October 18, the party mobilized its members and supporters to demonstrate in support of the President’s stance, rejecting the displacement of Gaza’s residents to Sinai, and authorizing the President to safeguard Egypt’s national security. Specific locations were designated for these demonstrations, such as the Unknown Soldier Memorial in Nasr City. They were met with counter-demonstrations at locations like Al-Azhar Mosque in Cairo, Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque in Giza, Ibrahim Pasha Square in Alexandria, and elsewhere, where the opposition expressed their refusal to grant authorization to the president and expressed support for Palestine.

 

The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):

 

Following the Constitution Party’s announcement last month that both the party’s higher authority and the general assembly had approved Gamila Ismail as the party’s candidate for the upcoming December presidential elections, a significant turn of events occurred. On October 10, the Constitution Party’s general assembly decided not to partake in the presidential elections. This decision served as a response to the violations observed during the initial phase, which included restrictions on candidates, preventing a wide audience from endorsing the candidates, and the arrest of a significant number of campaign members of the candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi.

 

The party also participated in activities supporting Palestinian resistance and condemning the aggression on Gaza, including the party’s call for a demonstration in front of Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque in Giza. This call received a significant response from the public.

 

• On October 7, the party released a statement in which they expressed their admiration and respect for the actions of the Palestinian resistance. In the statement, they emphasized that the Constitution Party takes great pride in the military operations conducted by Palestinian fighters in response to the ongoing provocations by the occupying Zionist entity and its extremist government.
• On October 10, the Constitution Party released a statement where they expressed serious concerns about citizens being barred from endorsing presidential candidates other than the President. As a result, the general assembly of Constitution Party members decided to abstain from participating in the presidential elections
• Starting on October 16, the Constitution Party signed a solidarity statement with the Palestinian people and participated with the Civil Democratic Movement in calling for a gathering on Friday in front of Mustafa Mahmoud Mosque to show solidarity with the people of Gaza.
• On October 21, the Constitution Party, in collaboration with the Bread and Freedom Party, initiated a grassroots campaign to collect in-kind donations and medical supplies to support the residents of Gaza.

 

Bread and Freedom Party (Under Establishment):

 

October was not an ordinary month for the Bread and Freedom Party. On September 30, Elham Eidarus, the party’s representative, along with several members of the People’s Socialist Alliance Party and the Conservative Party, faced an attempted physical assault by thugs in front of the notarization office on Syria Street while issuing endorsements for their candidates.

 

• On October 3, lawyers from the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights filed a report with the North Giza Prosecutor’s Office regarding an attempt to assault both Elham Eidarus, the representative of the Bread and Freedom Party’s founders, and Magdy Hemdan Mousa, a member of the Political Bureau of the Conservative Party. To prevent them from issuing popular endorsements for presidential candidates at the notarization office on Syria Street in Al-Mohandessin.
• On October 4, the Bread and Freedom Party released a statement where they expressed their concerns about the potential presidential candidate Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s electoral program. In their statement, the party emphasized that the only choices presented to the Egyptian people in the president’s electoral campaign were either hunger or destruction.
• On October 8, the Bread and Freedom Party issued a solidarity statement in support of the Palestinian people’s right to resist Israeli occupation.

 

Egyptian Social Democratic Party:

 

Despite the party’s leader, Farid Zahran, announcing his candidacy for the presidential position, citizens did not feel the impact of the electoral campaign that the party attempted to run.

 

• On October 8, Farid Zahran, the party’s leader, officially submitted his candidacy for the presidential position.

 

• On October 19, the party participated in a protest condemning the aggression on Gaza and supporting Palestinian resistance. This followed an official statement issued by the party’s presidential candidate, Farid Zahran, denouncing the Israeli aggression on Gaza. The party also sent a delegation to visit the Palestinian embassy to express the party’s support for Palestine.

 

Socialist Popular Alliance Party:

 

The party had previously launched the “Two Terms Are Enough” campaign, which did not receive a significant response. Consequently, they decided to support the campaign of the candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi in the battle for endorsements, facing significant obstacles in their campaign. Additionally, the party participated in the movement to support Palestinian resistance, with its members participating in most of the events that backed Palestine and condemned the aggression on Gaza.

 

• On September 26, the party demanded judicial oversight of the notarization office locations to confront the obstacles imposed by the authorities in front of the supporters of potential candidates and to prevent them from issuing endorsements.
• On October 1, the party announced its support for the potential presidential candidate, Ahmed El-Tantawi, and called on its members and supporters to issue endorsements in support of his candidacy.
• Starting from October 11, the party actively engaged in events expressing solidarity with Gaza and the Palestinian cause. The party urged Arab governments, especially the Egyptian government, to work towards ending the aggression and providing full support to the people in Gaza.
• On October 22, the party criticized the arrest of a large number of participants in the demonstrations supporting the Palestinian people. The statement also criticized the government’s stance, which called for demonstrations in support of the state’s position and the demand to authorize President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to protect Sinai against the plan to relocate Gaza’s residents to it. Meanwhile, several protesters who opposed the authorization were detained.

 

The Dignity Party (Al Karama):

 

The party’s activities from the end of September to mid-October primarily focused on supporting the candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi (he is the former president of the party) in the face of violations against his electoral campaign. In the first week of October, the party joined other political movements in activities that support the Palestinian cause.

 

The party also participated with other political forces in a joint statement condemning the aggression on Gaza and expressing support for Palestinian resistance. They took part in a protest in front of the Journalists’ Syndicate headquarters and condemned the arrest of several protesters on Friday, October 20, which included some party members. On October 22, the party held a public conference at its headquarters to show support for Palestinian resistance under the theme ‘Resistance is the path to victory’.

 

Conservative Party (Al Mohafezeen): 

 

The Conservative Party has voiced concern regarding the actions taken against the presidential candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi and the impediments he faced in completing endorsements that support his candidacy. In response, they issued a statement demanding effective guarantees of the presidential election’s integrity and emphasized the need for state institutions to remain impartial.

 

Starting from October 7, the party actively participated in events supporting Palestinian resistance against the occupation, following United Nations resolutions. The statement also urged the world’s nations to objectively consider the issue of occupation.

 

• On October 16, the party’s leader called for the Egyptian presidential elections to be delayed. He proposed the establishment of a national unity government with military participation that would prioritize the country’s higher interests. This postponement is deemed essential due to the ongoing regional conflict, which presents a risk to Egypt’s national security.

 

• On October 19, the party released a statement condemning the French and German positions that supported Israel’s aggression on Gaza.

 

Al Wafd Party:

 

While the party’s leader, Abdul-Sanad Yamama, was included in the list of presidential candidates, the citizens did not perceive a significant influence from his election campaign.

 

Additionally, his contribution to supporting Gaza during the Israeli aggression remained limited, primarily expressed through a statement condemning Israeli attacks on Palestine.

 

• On October 19, the party decided to suspend the presidential election campaign of its candidate, Abdul-Sanad Yamama, who is also the party’s leader, for three days in solidarity with the Palestinian people facing Israeli aggression. On the same day, the party announced its support for the Egyptian political leadership in rejecting attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians.

 

• On October 20, the party organized a symbolic demonstration at its headquarters to support Palestinian resistance and condemn Israeli aggression on Gaza.

 

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:

 

During the period from September to early October, the movement directed its efforts towards highlighting the infringements experienced by opposition candidates, notably the arrest of numerous campaign members for candidate Ahmed El-Tantawi and the impediments placed on the public in endorsing his candidacy.

 

Additionally, the movement joined in various protest activities against the aggression on Palestine.

 

• The movement issued a statement on October 20 in which they rejected the call to authorize President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in defense of national security. The statement presented the Egyptian people’s stance, which became evident in the protests on Friday, October 20, where they rejected the authorization. The statement called for support for Palestinian resistance and urged all supporters of Palestine to establish support committees everywhere, in universities, schools, and neighborhoods.

 

Section Two: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt

 

Professional Unions:

• Egyptian Journalists Syndicate:

 

• On October 7, the Journalists Syndicate declared its support for the rights of the Palestinian people in their resistance in response to the repeated crimes of the Zionist entity through all legitimate means.
• On October 8, the Journalists Syndicate condemned the attacks on Palestinian journalists, mourned the martyrs, and called for revealing information about the missing colleagues.
• On October 12, the Journalists Syndicate announced the beginning of receiving applications from candidates for enrollment schedule for trainees.
• On October 14, the Journalists Syndicate launched a campaign to monitor the assaults, violations, acts of violence, murder, and extermination committed by the Zionist entity against the Palestinian people. A press conference was held on Monday, October 16, to announce the documentation of the biased practices of Western media.
• On October 15, the head of the Journalists Syndicate announced that the syndicate is monitoring and will attend investigations involving journalists referred for investigation at the Cairo office of “BBC” due to their support for the Palestinian cause.
• On October 17, the Journalists Syndicate reached out to the National Press Authority, addressing the long-standing issue of temporary employees in national press organizations. They demanded the formal appointment of these workers and pushed for the creation of opportunities for their employment, a situation that has persisted without a resolution for an extended period.
• Furthermore, the administration of the BBC newspaper initiated investigations against journalists, accusing them of displaying bias in favor of the Palestinian people. This action was seen as part of Israel’s targeting of journalists. The syndicate expressed unwavering support and solidarity with these journalists and regarded their investigation as an infringement on their freedom of expression, shedding light on the double standards of the British Broadcasting Corporation.
• The General Journalists Syndicate has established 8 subcommittees in provinces with fewer than thirty resident working journalists, but more than fifteen members, as part of the activation of Article 61 of the Journalists Syndicate Law No. 76 of 1970.
• In an urgent meeting of the Union of Arab Journalists, the Secretary-General of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate criticized specific media entities and Arab satellite channels for hosting war criminals from the Zionist side. These individuals attempt to justify Zionist crimes through actions such as the killing of children, women, and elders, as well as the destruction of homes, mosques, churches, and hospitals. He urged authorities to prohibit these criminals from participating in media appearances.

• Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:

 

• On October 7, the leader of the Lawyers Syndicate expressed his profound condolences and heartfelt sympathy for the martyrs of the brotherly Palestinian people, and who bravely gave their lives in defense of their homeland and their nation.
• On October 8, the Lawyers Syndicate released a statement addressing the ongoing developments in the occupied Palestinian territories. They denounced the violations against the Palestinian people, all while highlighting the international community’s inaction in safeguarding the dignity of the Palestinian population. The syndicate firmly voiced its support for the Palestinian people’s resilience and resistance against the actions of the occupying Zionist entity.
• On October 14, the Lawyers Syndicate organized a solidarity gathering to support the Palestinian people in their resistance against the Zionist occupation’s aggressions and to denounce the Israeli aggression.
• Additionally, the General Lawyers Syndicate conducted a blood donation campaign in collaboration with the Egyptian Ministry of Health as a gesture of solidarity with the brotherly Palestinian people who are facing aggression from Israeli occupying forces.
• The Lawyers Syndicate’s council approved an increase in the maximum pension to 4,000 Egyptian pounds and raised the minimum to 2,000 Egyptian pounds. They also agreed to convene the regular General Assembly meeting in the latter half of November 2023 to ratify the proposed pension increase.
• On October 25, the Cairo Terrorism Felonies Court decided to extend the detention of the lawyer Ahmed Nazir El-Helw for 45 days in connection with case No. 1940 of 2022, State Security.

• Egyptian Medical Syndicate:

 

• On October 2, the Cairo Terrorism Felonies Court decided to extend the detention of Dr. Hany Suleiman for 45 days in connection with case No. 508 of 2023, a State Security case.
• On October 15, the General Committee overseeing the midterm elections for the Medical Syndicate announced the winning of Dr. Osama Abd el-Hay, a candidate from the “Future” list, for the position of Medical Syndicate Chairman, with 8992 votes.
• On October 18, the Giza Terrorism Felonies Court decided to extend the detention of Dr. Ahmed Mohamed El-Tabakh for 45 days in connection with case No. 1266 of 2023.
• On October 20, the Medical Syndicate Council convened its initial meeting, taking place one week following the midterm elections designed to constitute the Syndicate’s leadership board.
• On October 22, the Medical Syndicate’s leader disclosed that over 500 doctors had come forward as volunteers to provide medical assistance to the wounded and injured Palestinian individuals, emphasizing their solidarity.
• Additionally, the President of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate hosted a delegation from Doctors Without Borders at the General Syndicate’s Dar Al-Hikmah headquarters. The purpose of the meeting was to explore ways to offer essential medical support to the Palestinian population during the backdrop of Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.

• Egyptian Teachers Syndicate:

 

• On October 19, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to detain 14 of the teachers who were arrested during the protest against their appointment in the competition for the 30,000 teacher positions.

• Media Syndicate:

 

• On October 2, the Cairo Terrorism Felonies Court, held at the Badr Prison complex, decided to renew the detention of the journalist Hala Fahmy for 45 days in connection with case No. 441 of 2022, State Security.

• Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:

 

• On October 5, engineer Kamal Mohamed Shady Shahin’s health deteriorated significantly, and he was transferred from the second 10th of Ramadan Prison to the medical center where he died. He was in pretrial detention in connection with case No. 1222 of 2021, related to State Security.

• Acting Professions Syndicate:

 

• On October 15, the Acting Professions Syndicate declared its condemnation of the violations suffered by the Palestinian people at the hands of Israeli occupying forces. They also organized a support and solidarity gathering with the Palestinian people and mourned the martyrs in response to the massacres committed by the Zionist entity.
• On October 18, the head of the Acting Professions Syndicate and the director of Nasser Social Bank signed a cooperation protocol aimed at providing a decent standard of living for artists and their families. This involves offering banking services to the members of the syndicate, including actors and syndicate employees across various branches of the bank.
• On October 20, a delegation from the Acting Professions Syndicate, along with the General Syndicate Head, visited the Rafah border crossing to express support for the people of Gaza, proudly raising the Palestinian flag.

• Egyptian Syndicate of Musical Professions:

 

• On October 18, the Syndicate of Musical Professions issued a statement on behalf of the music community and artists in Egypt, expressing their full solidarity with their brethren in Gaza. The statement strongly condemned the massacres suffered by innocent people and children at the hands of the occupying army.

• Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate:

 

• On October 8, the Administrative Judiciary Court decided to postpone the case No. 75/15225, filed by Dr. Islam Abdel Fadel Moussa Abdel Majeed and another individual, against the Deputy Chairman of the General Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate, who is currently acting as the Chief Syndicate Chairman. This case pertains to the suspension of the negative decision to refrain from initiating elections for the council of the Egyptian Pharmacists Syndicate and its branches. The court is scheduled to deliver its verdict during the session on November 26.

• Egyptian Veterinary Syndicate:

 

• On October 18, the General Veterinarian Syndicate condemned the war crimes committed by the Zionist entity and the Israeli airstrikes targeting Al-Ahli Baptist Hospital in the Gaza Strip. Calling for initiating a lawsuit at the International Criminal Court in coordination with the Lawyers Syndicate.

• Media Syndicate:

 

• On October 22, the Administrative Judiciary Court decided to postpone the case filed to suspend the execution of the negative decision regarding the removal of the journalist Ibrahim Issa from the Journalists Syndicate, the Media Syndicate, and his suspension from broadcasting his television program on Al-Qahira Wal Nas channel. This suspension case was based on allegations of exploiting religion to promote his extremist and misleading ideas and beliefs to the public. The court scheduled the next session for November 15.

 

Labor Unions:

• The General Syndicate of Workers in Engineering, Metal, and Electrical Industries

 

• On October 2, employees at Universal Company staged a protest through a work strike to address their financial demands, which included salary enhancements, an increase in cost-of-living allowances, and the payment of outstanding arrears.
• On October 6, the calls for a work stoppage persisted as the company’s management declined to address their requests for salary disbursements, overdue financial entitlements, and wage improvements.
• On October 15, workers at Universal concluded their work stoppage after a thirteen-day strike. They reached an agreement with the management, allowing employees to receive half of their August salary within two days. The remaining portion of the August salary will be paid within one week. A schedule for clearing overdue salaries, totaling four and a half months, was established. Additionally, the management committed to ensuring the punctual payment of monthly salaries, which includes one-quarter of the overdue payments, until all outstanding financial dues are fully settled.

• General Syndicate of Textile and Weaving Workers:

 

• On September 28, after the management of Nile Linen Group terminated the employment of 15 workers arbitrarily on September 21, the company issued termination warnings to approximately 131 workers, escalating the crisis. This action followed a strike by 1,200 workers who ceased work due to the management’s failure to meet their financial and administrative demands and its arbitrary dismissal of their colleagues.

• General Union of Public Transport Authority Workers:

 

• On October 2, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to release the worker Mohamed Hashem on bail, with his residence as collateral, in connection with case No. 184 of 2023, State Security.

• General Union of the Egyptian Ambulance Authority:

 

• On October 24, the Cairo Terrorism Felonies Court, held in Badr Prison, decided to renew the detention of the worker Sameh Zakaria, an employee in the Ambulance Authority, for 45 days pending the investigation in case No. 2412 of 2022, State Security.

 

Section Three: Civil Society and Human Rights:

 

First: The most important activities, publications, and initiatives of human rights institutions:

• The National Council for Human Rights (NCHR):

 

• On October 12, the Council issued a statement regarding the situation in Gaza, in which Ambassador Moshira Khattab, the President of the National Council, expressed full solidarity with the Palestinian people in the occupied territories against the humanitarian crimes committed by the Israeli occupation against Palestinian civilians. She called on Israel, as an occupying authority, to immediately cease the massacres against civilians in Gaza and to fulfill the rights of the Palestinian people under international humanitarian law, international human rights law, and the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention, ensuring the implementation of international human rights standards.

• Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression:

 

• On October 11, the association published a report titled “The University as an Instrument of Authority” to monitor and document surveillance violations by universities of the activities of academics outside the university.

• Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights:

 

• On September 28, the initiative released a study titled “Towards Fair Wages for All in Egypt: Minimum Wage Expansion Options.” The study provides an analysis of wage policies in Egypt in the context of austerity policies, national debt, reduced public spending on services, and social protection. It also examines developments related to the minimum wage in both the public and private sectors.
• On October 1, the initiative submitted two reports to the Giza Prosecutor’s Office regarding an attempted assault on both Ilham Eidarus and Magdi Hemdan Mousa. Ilham Eidarus is the representative of the founders of the Party of Bread and Freedom (under formation), while Magdi Hemdan Mousa is a member of the Supreme Committee and the Political Bureau of the Conservative Party. The reports also addressed the obstruction of issuing public endorsements for presidential election candidates at the notarization office in El Mohandseen area.
• On October 9, the initiative condemned the appellate verdict issued on October 7, which upheld the conviction and imprisonment of Hisham Qasim, the political dissident, publisher, and leader of the Free Liberal Current.
• On October 17, the organization published an info graphic on its official Facebook page regarding the number of death sentences issued during September 2023.

• Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms:

 

• On September 27, the Commission issued a statement demanding the release and dropping of charges against both the blogger Mohamed Oxygen and the activist and blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah after they completed their fourth year in prison.
• On October 1, the Commission published its special report on press and media violations and violations against media workers, highlighting the most significant violations witnessed in the media and journalism sector during September 2023.
• On October 3, the Commission issued a statement expressing solidarity with the family of the activist Mahmoud Mohamed, known as “The T-shirt Detainee,” in their demand for his release pending his trial, to preserve his health condition.
• On October 6, the Commission announced the formation of the “Presidential Elections 2024 Emergency Monitoring Room,” coinciding with the opening of the candidacy registration and monitoring media neutrality towards the presidential candidates.
• On October 8, the Commission published a study titled “Dangerous Confrontations: The Suffering of Medical Crews in Egypt Before and After COVID-19.”
• On October 10, the “Stop the Death Penalty” initiative in the Commission published a research paper titled “Islamic Sharia and the Death Penalty.” The report discussed the historical origins of murder as a crime among the Arabs before the Quranic revelation and how the Arabs dealt with murderers and the rights of the victims’ families.
• On October 15, the Commission posted a comment on the legislative proposal related to refugees and ministerial decisions amending residence fees, entitled “In Search of the Dollar: The Impact of the Economic Crisis on Refugees and Migrants in Egypt.”

• Egyptian Front for Human Rights:

 

• On October 22, the Front issued a statement condemning the continued detention of dozens of individuals and youths who were arrested for their participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations on Friday, October 20, at various protest locations, including Mostafa Mahmoud Mosque, Tahrir Square, and in Alexandria.
• On October 23, the Front published a report on violations of fair trial guarantees during the investigation phase of case No. 1360 of 2019, a State Security case, based on international human rights treaties and agreements, as well as the constitution and national law, in line with the organization’s approach to monitoring the human rights situation in Egypt.

• Technology and Law Community – Masaar:

 

• On October 2, Masar published a research paper titled “Freedom of Information and its Impact on the Freedom of the Media and Press” to demonstrate that free and independent media outlets are essential for providing information to the public.
• On October 17, Masar released a study on how video games are enhancing the stereotypical representations of gender, aiming to provide a comprehensive image of the intersection of gender in video games while highlighting the need to address several prevailing negative aspects in both the video game industry and the content it provides, within the gaming community.
• On October 23, Masar posted a memorandum on its website listing the key objective legal defenses that can be used as a reference in investigations and trials related to the offense of “intentionally disturbing others through the improper use of communication devices,” as stipulated in Article 76 of the Communications Regulation Law No. 10 of 2003.

• The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights:

• On October 15, the center issued a statement condemning the decision of the BBC office management to refer six of its employees to investigations and suspend them from work due to their posting of expressions of solidarity with the Palestinian cause on social media platforms.

• Collective human rights activities:

 

Throughout the month, several collective and shared statements were released by independent human rights institutions concerning the following matters:

 

• The detention of political activist and opposition figure Ghada Naguib by Turkish authorities at the beginning of the current month, including a physical assault on her during her attempt to communicate with her lawyer.
• A call for the international community and Egyptian authorities, based on their humanitarian responsibilities and obligations under international law, to take immediate action in urging Israel to lift the blockade and ensure the entry of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian population in Gaza.
• A potential third term for President Sisi could endanger the stability of the Egyptian state and impede progress in human rights and economic reforms.
• A call on the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and member states of the Arab League to take swift action to prevent the situation from deteriorating into potential acts of genocide against the Palestinian civilian population in Gaza.
• A petition directed towards the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the President of the European Union, the President of the European Parliament, and the Secretary-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross, urging them to apply maximum pressure on the Israeli government to agree to an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

 

Second: Violations and harassment:

• Arrest and detention:

• On October 22, security forces arrested human rights lawyers Islam Salama, Mohamed Ezzab, and Asmaa Naeem at their residence in Al-Maadi district. They were held in custody for several hours before eventually being released.

• Detention Renewal:

• • On October 7, the terrorism circuit of the Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of Mohamed El-Qassas, the Vice President of Masr El Qaweyya Party, for 45 days in Case No. 1781 of 2020.
  • On October 25, the third terrorism circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of activist Nermine Hussein for 45 days in Case No. 65 of 2021, under the jurisdiction of the Supreme State Security Prosecution.

• Trials:

• • The disciplinary trial of lawyers at the Cairo Court of Appeals, on October 22, decided to postpone the hearing of the appeal against the disciplinary verdict imposed on human rights lawyer Ahmed Helmi. This disciplinary action prohibited him from practicing law for three years. This action followed a complaint lodged by the State Security Prosecutor and the head of the Third Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court during one of the hearings for the renewal of pretrial detention, scheduled for January 14, 2024.

• Judicial Verdicts:

 

• On October 7, the Economic Misdemeanor Court in Cairo rejected Hisham Qasim’s appeal, confirming his 6-month imprisonment sentence with hard labor and a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds. This case had been initiated by Kamal Abu Aita, a member of the Presidential Pardon Committee and joined by an officer in the Sayyeda Zainab police department.
• On October 22, the military ruler officially endorsed the convictions of Dr. Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, the leader of the Masr El Qaweya Party, his deputy, Mohamed Al-Qassas, and student activist Muaz Al-Sharqawi.