Civil Society in Egypt … August 2024 Parties, Syndicates and Human Rights

Section One: Egyptian Political Parties

Introduction:

This month has seen increased activity among Egyptian political parties, whether due to the ongoing war in Gaza, issues related to the rising cost of living, the proposal of a controversial draft law on criminal procedures, or the rise in labor protests demanding better wages.

Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):

Despite the party’s ongoing engagement in community services—such as free medical convoys and discounted school supplies fairs—it has, while consistently defending the government’s performance in political matters, expressed support for the government’s new criminal procedure law. This support comes despite criticisms from political groups and the lawyers’ syndicate.

This month, the party opened five new offices in Sharqia governorate, launched the Nile Handball Tournament in Qena governorate, addressed sewage and road issues in New Damietta, supported the “Made in Gharbia” initiative to promote local Egyptian industry, and held discounted school supplies fairs in several neighborhoods across Cairo.

On the political front, the party’s representative on the committee drafting the new criminal procedure law affirmed that the draft law adheres to the constitution and the national human rights strategy.

Homeland Protectors Party (Humat El Watan Party):

Similar to the Homeland Future Party, the Homeland Protectors Party continued to support state policies and engage in community service in some areas.

The party launched a free medical convoy in Alexandria and held a seminar on the importance of preventing infectious diseases in Sohag governorate.

On August 16, the party organized a seminar in Port Said titled “The Role of Media in the New Republic” to educate its members in the governorate.

On August 19, the party stated that it is closely following developments in the pretrial detention issue and the ongoing discussions about the criminal procedure law draft, affirming that the draft law demonstrates the political leadership’s commitment to addressing the problem.

The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):

In August, the party focused on joint activities with the Egyptian Civil Movement, and at the organizational level, the party is close to issuing its new internal regulations.

The party began the month with a statement expressing its deep concern over the circumstances surrounding the arrest of Engineer Yehia Hussein Abdel Hadi, a politician and founder of the Democratic Civil Movement, the National Association for Change, and the Kefaya Movement.

On August 14, the party announced the completion of its new internal regulations, which are part of the party’s internal reorganization.

On August 21, the party issued a statement outlining its and the Civil Movement’s stance on the criminal procedure law project. The party reaffirmed its steady position on pretrial detention and called for the release of all detainees.

Egyptian Social Democratic Party:

Party representatives in the House of Representatives intensified their parliamentary activity to draw attention to the impact of incorrect political and economic decisions. The party also made sure to announce its official stance on issues raised in the political arena.

The party’s MPs submitted three questions in parliament: The first concerning the reasons for the liquidation of Metalico, the leading company specializing in the design, manufacturing, and installation of metal structures in Egypt and the Middle East. The second question was about the repeated phenomenon of widespread cheating in high school exams. The third question was regarding the Egyptian Olympic delegation participating in the Paris 2024 Olympics.

On August 20, the party issued a statement criticizing the hasty decisions regarding the education sector and called for a study to be conducted by experts to develop it, as well as for postponing the implementation of the new ministerial decisions in the sector.

On August 23, the party issued a statement expressing solidarity with the workers of the Egyptian Iron and Steel Company for Mines and Quarries in their demand for the provision of three meals a day as stipulated by labor law.

Popular Socialist Alliance Party:

The party participated in the establishment of a new coalition of leftist parties and focuses on supporting labor protests that demand wage increases. The party is also focused on participating in collective events addressing economic conditions.

On August 3, the party organized a seminar titled “The Renaissance Dam: Impact and Risks for Egypt and Sudan.” The seminar discussed the risks posed by the Renaissance Dam to Egypt and Sudan and the proposed solutions for dealing with the anticipated issues.

On August 10, the party organized a seminar in collaboration with socialist parties titled “Selling State Assets: The Pinnacle of the Crisis.” The seminar addressed the government’s approach to liquidating assets amid an escalating economic crisis.

On August 14, the party issued a statement on the occasion of International Youth Day, calling for the release of young prisoners held on charges related to their opinions.

On August 17, the party organized a seminar titled “Media Blackout and the Forgotten Tragedy of Sudan,” which was attended by several media figures from Egypt and Sudan.

Bread and Freedom Party:

The party focused its activities on supporting labor protests resulting from increased living costs and backing events in support of Palestine. The party also continued to organize its internal affairs throughout August.

The party began August by condemning the arrest of Eng. Yahya Hussein Abdel Hadi and called for the charges against him to be dropped and for his release.

On August 4, the party participated in a press conference held by the Democratic Civil Movement to respond to a government statement. The party’s representative presented the party’s comments on the government’s statement.

The party also issued a statement condemning the torture and forced disappearance of cartoonist Ashraf Omar for 60 hours and demanded his release and all journalists imprisoned on charges related to their opinions.

On August 14, the party announced the conclusion of the “Right to Organize” campaign, which it launched in solidarity with the union of workers at the Suez Canal clubs. The party reiterated its demand for the cancellation of the Minister of Manpower’s decision to stop collecting and deducting membership fees for the Union.

On August 14, the party issued a statement expressing solidarity with the workers of the Vincia Ceramic Factory, who are on strike to demand the implementation of the minimum wage and improved working conditions. The statement affirmed the fairness of the workers’ demands according to the law.

On August 17, the party participated in a discussion session organized by the Civilian Movement with several political leaders and January revolution figures. In its speech, the party emphasized the importance of involving younger generations and the middle generation in consultations about the current political and economic conditions.

Conservatives Party (Al Mohafezeen Party):

The party continued its support for the Civilian Movement and hosted most events at its headquarters. Additionally, the party increased its field activities in preparation for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

On August 1, Akmal Qureitam, the party leader, announced that the party would run in the upcoming parliamentary elections without forming a coalition with the regime parties.

On August 16, the party hosted a meeting organized by the Civil Democratic Movement with several political figures to facilitate dialogue between the younger generation and the middle generation about the future of the movement in light of the evolving political conditions.

El Wafd Party:

We, along with many others, believe that the Wafd Party has ceased to be an opposition party and has been supporting the government for years. This is evident from its participation in what are called presidential elections and the punishment of its dissenting members.

The party leader, after participating in the committee drafting the Criminal Procedure Code, stated that the draft law provides more rights and freedoms, and announced his support for the bill.

On August 22, the party held a ceremony to honor students who passed the high school exams, specifically the children of party members and the Wafd Foundation. The party awarded certificates of appreciation and special prizes to the top performers.

On August 23, the party leader, Abdel-Sanad Yamama, stated during the party’s celebration of the Wafd leaders’ anniversary that the Wafd Party is part of the Egyptian political system, and he thanked the Egyptian state and its security agencies.

The Current of Hope Party (Tayyar Al-Amal) “Under Establishment”:

The party’s activity has relatively increased, with a focus on declaring its stance on politically relevant issues and participating in collective events, especially those supporting Palestine. At the same time, the party is working on organizing its structural framework and issuing an internal regulation for the party.

The party issued a statement condemning the authorities’ attempts to evacuate the residents of Al-Warraq Island. The statement criticized the government’s policy of displacement under the pretext of development.

On August 10, the party issued a statement condemning the targeting of displaced persons by occupying forces at the Al-Tabieen School in Gaza, which resulted in the martyrdom of over 100 children. The party called on the international community and the UN Security Council to act to halt the aggression against Gaza.

On August 16, the party announced the completion of drafting its internal regulations and stated that the draft regulations would be presented for discussion at all levels of the party.

On August 21, the party issued a statement addressing its position on the Criminal Procedure Code bill. The party demanded accountability for those responsible for extending pretrial detention periods and called for national dialogue recommendations to be handled through state agencies rather than the President.

The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:

The movement continued to support political prisoners and to disseminate news about global solidarity with Gaza. Throughout August, the movement focused on supporting labor strikes demanding improved wages at various locations.

On August 11, the movement participated in a solidarity day with imprisoned journalists, organized by the Journalists’ Syndicate, to call for the release of journalists and the closure of their imprisonment cases.

On August 18, the movement declared its solidarity with the striking workers of “Shorbagi” Company, who were demanding better wages and increased incentives.

Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt

Professional Unions:

1- The Journalists’ Syndicate

The Journalists’ Syndicate welcomed the presidential directives to refer the national dialogue recommendations on pretrial detention and criminal justice to the government. The Syndicate called for the prompt release of all imprisoned journalists, numbering 23 in total, and emphasized that merely applying the current law as it stands would result in the release of 16 journalists who are currently in pretrial detention beyond the legal limits.

The Journalists’ Syndicate organized a solidarity day with Palestinian journalists at its headquarters, coinciding with the anniversary of Prisoners’ Day.

A group of journalists organized a symbolic sit-in at the Syndicate’s headquarters to demand the release of their detained colleagues.

The Syndicate also announced its support for the efforts of the Lawyers’ Syndicate in halting and opening a societal discussion on the Criminal Procedure Code, as its impact affects the entire community, including journalists.

2- The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:

The proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code dominated the activities and events of the Lawyers’ Syndicate. The Syndicate’s Council held a meeting with the participation of the branch heads, where they announced their rejection of the bill in its current form. They called for its return to the Senate for further discussion and emphasized the need for amendments to align it with the constitution. The Council considered itself to be in continuous session

3- The Egyptian Doctors Syndicate:

The crisis of assaults on doctors while performing their duties has erupted again following a clash at a government hospital between singer Mohamed Fouad and a treating doctor.

Jamal Omeira, the Deputy Chairman of the Doctors’ Syndicate, stated that the issue of assaults on doctors has exceeded its limits and will drive more doctors to leave the country due to the poor treatment they receive from some patients’ families.

Khaled Amin, the Assistant Secretary of the General Syndicate of Doctors, mentioned that the incident involving singer Mohamed Fouad and Dr. Mustafa Mohamed could have been avoided “if Mohamed Fouad had respected the place he was in, respected the privacy of the patients, and recognized that the doctor was indeed examining his brother and did not leave him for a moment.”

Posts circulating on social media regarding the cancellation of government assignments for medical college graduates have sparked widespread debate. Dr. Mohamed Farid, the Secretary-General of the Doctors’ Syndicate, stated that the decision to make assignments non-mandatory for all graduates was issued in 2022. He noted that the Syndicate had proposed to the Minister of Health at that time that there was a significant shortage of medical doctors in hospitals. The Minister confirmed that the decision would be implemented starting in 2025, and assignments for graduates of medical colleges, dental colleges, pharmacies, and physical therapy would be based on geographical needs.

The General Office of the Doctors’ Syndicate decided to address the Ministry of Health and Population, requesting that it commit to covering the fees and expenses for postgraduate studies for those enrolled in the Egyptian Fellowship Program. The Syndicate also demanded that various employers cover these expenses and fees for their employees and reduce these fees for non-employees, especially for the first-round examinations.

A report prepared by the General Syndicate of Doctors revealed that 16 rulings were issued by the Primary Disciplinary Committee. The Syndicate received 184 complaints, conducted 174 investigations, and referred 319 doctors to the Professional Conduct Committee during the year 2023.

The General Syndicate of Doctors filed a complaint with the Public Prosecutor regarding an assault and attempted murder of Dr. Mustafa Mokhtar El-Shinawi, a consultant in internal medicine and head of the Virus Committee at Al-Obour Hospital in Kafr El-Sheikh. This incident involved a patient and his son’s wife calling external individuals to assault the doctor and attempt to kill him.

4- The Dentists’ Syndicate:

• The General Syndicate of Dentists held a conference to discuss several important issues, including the reasons for postponing the regular general assembly of the Syndicate. The discussion focused on the increase in the number of graduates and its impact on the profession. The conference was attended by several members of the General Council of the Syndicate of Dentists.

5- The Veterinary Doctors Syndicate

Dr. Nagy Sallam, a member of the General Council of the Veterinarians’ Syndicate, announced the convening of the General Assembly of the Veterinarians’ Syndicate, following the achievement of the legal quorum and the attendance of approximately 584 veterinarians.

The General Syndicate of Veterinarians honored doctors “Sara Khamees Barakat” and “Ghada Fathy Turki” for their development of early diagnostic and treatment methods for breast and lung cancer without chemotherapy, using quantum mechanics and frequencies, in collaboration with several Chinese and American researchers.

6- The Nursing Staff Syndicate

Kawthar Mahmoud, the Head of the Nursing Syndicate, inaugurated the first nursing club in Egypt in Maadi, announcing the upcoming opening of the Egyptian Nursing Club in Port Said, which will be the second club of the Syndicate.

Dozens of graduates from the 2021-2022 batches of technical health institutes and nursing institutes organized a protest in front of the General Nursing Syndicate, demanding registration and the issuance of Syndicate membership cards, in the presence of a heavy police presence.

7- The Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:

Engineer Kareem Al-Kassar, Assistant Secretary-General of the General Syndicate of Engineers, stated that the number of members of the Engineers’ Syndicate nationwide has reached approximately 897,926 engineers, registered under 7 engineering branches within the Syndicate. He noted that the number of new annual batches is around 45,000 engineers, with a growth rate ranging from 4.5% to 5% over the past five years.

Engineer Tarek El-Nabarawy, Head of the Engineers’ Syndicate, met with Engineer Anwar El-Safy, CEO and Managing Director of a leading company in the field of telecommunications and information technology, which is responsible for implementing the Digital Egypt platform. El-Nabarawy emphasized that it is time to implement a unified digital platform for engineers using the latest technologies. This platform will also provide training and employment services, create a comprehensive profile for each registered engineer with all scientific and practical experiences, and establish technological connections with the Digital Egypt platform to benefit from its services.

8- The Teachers’ Syndicate:

The Cabinet has approved the agreement reached between the Ministers of Finance and of Education and Technical Education regarding the value of the additional teaching session for appointed teachers who will teach beyond the legal limit. The additional session will be valued at 50 Egyptian pounds per lesson.

The Cabinet also approved an increase in the value of the lesson for teachers who are graduates of teaching-qualified colleges, raising it from 20 Egyptian pounds to 50 Egyptian pounds per lesson.

Labor Unions:

The General Syndicate of Workers in Construction and Wood:

The security workers of Alexandria Construction Company, part of Talaat Moustafa Group, organized a protest in front of the central administration of the company in “Madinaty” to demand higher wages.

Around 3,000 workers at Venecia Ceramics Manufacturing Company ended a seven-day strike. The decision came after an agreement with the management to increase wages by 500 Egyptian pounds, starting from the October salary, in addition to another 300 pounds to be paid as an incentive if the workers meet the required target. The agreement also includes a restructuring of wages, setting a minimum salary of 6,000 Egyptian pounds by no later than December 31.

The General Union of Workers in Spinning and Weaving

Workers of the “Al-Shourbagy Textile” Company organized a protest to demand the reinstatement of the company’s trade union committee, the lifting of the suspension on its bank account, financial integration with the workers of the Misr Helwan Complex, and the implementation of a rotation system for them.

According to Mustafa Arafa, the head of the committee, the company’s trade union committee has been subjected to persecution by the Misr Helwan management and the General Union of Spinning and Weaving. He explained, “Since January 2023, the General Union has withheld the union committee’s share of workers’ subscription fees, which is legally set at 60%. We filed a complaint with the Giza Labor Directorate, which subsequently contacted the General Union.”

The General Union of Trade Workers

The General Union of Trade Workers has documented the vendors and traders affected by the fire that broke out in the Ataba and Moski areas to examine the consequences of the fire and the proposed solutions to properly address this issue. This is especially important given the recurrence of fires in various areas due to rising temperatures during the current season. The focus is on ensuring the vendors return to their locations as quickly as possible and on studying compensation for losses resulting from work stoppages or those caused by the fire.

Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF):

The President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation met with the Director of the Arab Labor Organization to discuss common issues. The meeting included discussions on ways to enhance cooperation between the Arab Labor Organization and the Egyptian Trade Union Federation to serve the Egyptian working class.

Both sides discussed the implementation of a series of training workshops organized by the Arab Labor Organization in collaboration with the General Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions. These workshops aim to improve workers’ skills and enhance their capabilities in line with the requirements of the modern labor market.

The President of the Egyptian Trade Union Federation announced the opening of registration for a course on “Crises and Negotiation” in Cairo Governorate in cooperation with Nasser Higher Military Academy.

Abdel Moneim El-Gamal, President of the General Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions, met with Eric Oechslin, Director of the International Labor Organization Office in Cairo, and his accompanying delegation to discuss common issues between both sides that strengthen labor relations and affirm the commitment to international labor standards.

The Committee for the Defense of Trade Union Freedoms

A meeting of the Committee for the Defense of Trade Union Freedoms and Labor Rights, attended by representatives of trade union organizations and labor offices from political parties, discussed the labor minister’s disregard for the trade union organizations’ request to hold a meeting with him. The purpose of the meeting was to present the obstacles faced by trade union organizations, whether those that are currently inactive or those seeking to be established, and to work on reactivating the Ministry’s Complaints Committee and resuming its meetings with representatives of inactive trade union organizations.

Section Three: Human Rights Organizations:

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

National Council for Human Rights:

The most important activities of the National Council this month included holding educational workshops attended by 148 primary school students from various schools in Minya Governorate.

The Economic Rights Committee of the Council, in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, also organized a workshop titled “Mechanisms to Promote Human Rights Concepts in the Government Sector.”

On August 22, the National Council praised the presidential directive to refer the recommendations of the comprehensive national dialogue on pretrial detention and criminal justice to the government.

The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR)

The initiative published an infographic on death sentences in Egypt during June 2024, noting that 40 defendants were sentenced to death.

On August 15, the initiative criticized the decisions of the Ministry of Education, including the reliance on temporary teachers, arguing that this entrenches discrimination, injustice, and violates their constitutional rights. The initiative emphasized the need to abandon the unconstitutional criteria added as requirements for appointment in the 30,000-teacher recruitment competition and for enrollment in a military course.

On August 20, the initiative published a research paper on the interest on domestic and foreign debt, which has exceeded 91% of the expected tax revenue in the new fiscal year.

The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights

On August 4, 2024, the Egyptian Center submitted a request to the Supreme State Security Prosecution to release 20 defendants who have exceeded the maximum duration for pretrial detention in Case 330 of 2022 (State Security).

In mid-August, a tripartite committee of experts from the Ministry of Justice visited the Nazlet El-Samman area for an on-site inspection and to listen to the complaints of the residents before issuing a decision on expropriation for public benefit regarding one of the demolition cases in the area.

On August 18, the Egyptian Center published a guide outlining the rights of private-sector workers in cases of company dissolution, liquidation, closure, or bankruptcy declaration.

On August 24, the center published the legal steps for closing a company in a paper titled “Rights of Private Sector Workers in Cases of Company Dissolution, Liquidation, Closure, or Bankruptcy Declaration.”

Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms

The Commission announced a training program titled “Human Rights Journalism,” a three-day workshop focused on human rights journalism to prepare new generations to advocate for human rights issues.

On August 18, 2024, the Commission issued a position paper on cases of forced eviction of residents from the Jamil District area west of Port Said, and released a press statement calling on the Egyptian government to urgently stop the legal violations against the residents of the area.

On August 22, the Commission launched the “Save Freedom of Expression” campaign to demand an end to the severe security crackdown on journalists. It published profiles on cartoonist and translator Ashraf Omar, and engineer Yehia Hussein Abdel Hadi, known as the “Knight of Anti-Privatization,” who is paying the price for his peaceful expression of opinion, as well as journalist Khaled Mamdouh, who disappeared before being detained on charges of spreading false news.

Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS)

On August 8, 2024, CTUWS published a report on new persecution by Al-Shourbagy Al-Nasr Spinning and Weaving Company, which had prevented members of the trade union committee from working alongside other employees in the company. On August 15, the workers announced a protest to demand the reinstatement of the trade union committee, payment of their financial dues, and equalization of annual bonuses and allowances with those of the Helwan Complex workers.

On August 14, approximately 3,000 workers at Venecia Ceramics went on strike to protest the management’s disregard for their demands for wage increases and the implementation of occupational health and safety measures. On August 18, after a week of striking, the workers ended their strike following negotiations with the company management to address their demands gradually.

On August 25, CTUWS reported that security forces had arrested 10 workers from Spinning and Weaving Company in Samanoud, including 4 female workers, after the workers demanded the implementation of the minimum wage set by the President.

Centre for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance (CEWLA) 

On July 31, the Access to Justice Program organized an awareness seminar for 30 Christian women in the Al-Zaraib area of Manshiyet Nasser-Duweikha on the Egyptian Constitution and discriminatory laws against women.

On August 8, 2024, the Access to Justice Program held an awareness seminar on personal status laws for 30 women at the headquarters of the Al-Jisr Comprehensive Development Association in the Hadaeq al-Qubba area.

On August 23, the “Reproductive and Sexual Rights” program conducted a meeting with staff and board members of community associations and organizations on “Reproductive and Sexual Health Issues.”

On August 25, an awareness seminar was held for women in the Nahya El-Balad area of Bulaq Dakrour on various forms of violence and their social and psychological impacts on women and girls, as part of the anti-violence project against women.

Technology and Law Community – Masaar:

On July 29, 2024, Masar published a paper titled “The Environmental Impact of Technology: From Data Centers to Artificial Intelligence.”

On August 12, 2024, the foundation published a paper on “Digital Transformation and Social Justice: The Impact of Digital Technology on Income Distribution.”

On August 19, the foundation released a paper titled “Between Reality and Legislation: Issues with the Technologists’ Union Law,” which outlines the need for a technologists’ union and for legal and institutional frameworks to regulate technological professions.

Joint Human Rights Activities:

On July 28, 2024, several human rights organizations released a statement regarding activist Mohamed Adel’s intention to refuse to accept his nutrition at the highly secure Gamasa prison where he is detained, in preparation for starting a hunger strike. This move aims to account for the two years and seven months he has spent in pretrial detention in the main case, one of whose charges resulted in a four-year prison sentence.

On August 4, 2024, human rights organizations expressed their concern about the conditions inside the Badr Rehabilitation and Correction Center in Egypt, based on testimonies from the families of detainees regarding suicide attempts and a mass hunger strike in response to widespread power outages.

On August 13, human rights organizations condemned the security forces’ raid on the premises of the Maraya Company for Culture and Arts, including the search and seizure of some of the company’s property such as computers, dozens of books, and cultural publications, as well as several financial files and documents. An administrative employee of the company was also arrested.

Secondly: Violations and Harassment

1- Renewal of Detention:

On July 28, 2024, the State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of journalist Yasser Abu Al-Ela for 15 days pending case No. 1568 of 2024, State Security Investigation.

On July 29, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of journalist Khaled Mamdouh for 15 days pending case No. 1282 of 2024, State Security Investigation. The Supreme State Security Prosecution also decided to renew the detention of dentist Sherif Mamdouh El-Saqqa for 15 days pending investigations in case No. 2810 of 2024, State Security Investigation, and decided to renew the detention of labor unionist Shady Ali Ali Mohamed pending case No. 1644 of 2024, State Security Investigation.

The Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court, convened in Badr Prison, also decided to renew the detention of journalist Tawfiq Abdelwahid Ibrahim Ghanem pending case No. 238 of 2021, Supreme State Security Prosecution Investigation.

On July 30, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of Omar Mohamed Mohamed El-Dahma for 45 days pending case No. 2469 of 2023, Supreme State Security Prosecution, following his participation in solidarity demonstrations with Palestine on October 13 last year in Alexandria.

The court also decided to renew the detention of lawyer Saeed Hassan Ali for 45 days pending case No. 238 of 2021, Supreme State Security Prosecution.

On August 3, 2024, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court, convened in Badr Prison, decided to renew the detention of teacher Yehia Ibrahim for 45 days pending case No. 2207 of 2021, State Security Investigation.

On August 4, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court, convened in Badr Prison, decided to renew the detention of Dr. Hany Suleiman Hussein Suleiman for 45 days pending case No. 508 of 2023.

On August 6, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of Ahmed Essam Abbas for 15 days pending case No. 2810 of 2024, Supreme State Security Investigation, due to his comparison of prices between 2013 and 2024 on Facebook.

On August 11, the State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of both engineer Yehia Hussein Abdel Hadi for 15 days pending case No. 3916 of 2024, State Security Investigation, and Youssef Ahmed Reao for 15 days pending case No. 3528 of 2024, State Security Investigation. The prosecution also decided to renew the detention of journalist Yasser Abu Al-Ela for 15 days pending case No. 1586 of 2024, State Security Investigation.

On August 12, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court in Badr decided to renew the detention of journalist and writer Mohamed Saad Khattab Heggy for 45 days pending case No. 2063 of 2023, Supreme State Security Investigation. The court also decided to renew the detention of journalist Mostafa El-Khatib for 45 days pending case No. 488 of 2019, Supreme State Security Investigation.

The Supreme State Security Prosecution also decided to renew the detention of journalist Khaled Mamdouh for 15 days pending case No. 1282 of 2024, Supreme State Security Investigation, and renewed the detention of labor unionist Shady Ali Ali Mohamed pending case No. 1644 of 2024, State Security Investigation.

On August 14, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court in Badr decided to renew the detention of party leader Mohamed El-Kassas for 45 days pending case No. 786 of 2020, Supreme State Security Prosecution Investigation.

On August 18, the State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of cartoonist Ashraf Omar for 15 days pending case No. 1568 of 2024, State Security Investigation.

On August 25, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of journalist Yasser Abu Al-Ela for 15 days pending case No. 1568 of 2024, State Security Investigation.

2- Judicial Rulings

On July 30, 2024, the Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights obtained compensation rulings from labor courts for four journalists who were arbitrarily dismissed from Al-Tariq newspaper, amounting to 455,000 Egyptian pounds.

On August 1, 2024, the Egyptian Center also obtained compensation rulings, payment of financial dues, and reinstatement orders for two workers at Universal Company, to be enforced compulsorily.

3- Legal Victories

On August 14, 2024, the State Security Prosecution decided to release 18 detainees held in pretrial detention in connection with five political cases: (No. 1691 of 2022, No. 1893 of 2022, No. 1977 of 2022, No. 1976 of 2023, No. 952 of 2024).

On August 22, 2024, security forces in Giza Governorate executed the decision to release journalist and director of Yaqeen News Network, Yehia Khalaf Allah, issued by the South Giza Prosecution, with a guarantee of his place of residence, in case No. 13338 of 2024, misdemeanor of Giza Police Station.

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