Section One: Egyptian Political Parties
Introduction:
One of the most significant activities of political parties this month was their support for the cause of the workers at Samannoud Textiles “Wabariyat Samannoud.” The workers’ strike, which began in mid-August and lasted until September 21, aimed to achieve their main demand of implementing the minimum wage of 6,000 Egyptian pounds.
On the organizational front, internal conflicts have intensified within parties like Al-Dostour and the Egyptian Social Democratic Party. These disputes have escalated to the point where security forces were called, and legal action has been initiated.
Homeland Future Party (Mostaqbal Watan Party):
The “Mostaqbal Watan” Party maintained its charitable activities this month, in addition to its consistent support for all government and parliamentary decisions.
Throughout the month, the party organized several events, including back-to-school supply fairs in Tanta to mark the start of the school year, and fairs selling traditional sweets for the Prophet’s birthday celebration in Hurghada. They also held a recreational day for orphans and distributed school bags in Beni Suef.
Additionally, the party’s secretariat in Badr City organized a seminar on “The Dangers of Misusing the Internet.” The session aimed to raise awareness about the health and moral risks, as well as to provide guidance for families on how to deal with the negative aspects of excessive or improper internet use.
Homeland Protectors Party (Humat El Watan Party):
This month, the “Humat El Watan (Homeland Protectors)” Party condemned the Israeli occupation’s claims of arms smuggling from Egypt to the Gaza Strip. Domestically, the party organized several charitable activities.
In Beheira Governorate, the party distributed humanitarian aid to displaced people from Sudan and Palestine residing in Egypt. The aid included tons of fresh meat, sweets for the Prophet’s birthday “El Mouled”, and 5,000 food boxes containing essential supplies.
The party also launched a free medical convoy and distributed clothing and school supplies in Alexandria.
Additionally, the party hosted a cultural salon at the inaugural Capital Book Fair, focusing on the vital role of Egypt’s soft power in strengthening cultural relations with other countries.
The Constitution Party (Al Dostour Party):
Internal conflicts and disputes within the party became public and escalated to the courts. The disagreements began when party leader Gameela Ismail suspended several members of the Supreme Council. This prompted the council to convene without her and officially record the meeting minutes, invoking the party’s regulations to expel her from membership. After submitting the minutes to the Political Parties Affairs Committee, the committee decided to remove Gameela Ismail and declare the party leadership position vacant. In response, Ismail’s faction appealed the committee’s decision before the Administrative Court.
The party also issued a statement rejecting the amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law, calling for their withdrawal and a review to ensure the articles comply with the constitution and international agreements. They demanded a reduction in pretrial detention periods and guarantees to prevent the re-arrest of those released in new cases.
Additionally, the Dostour Party and the Civil Democratic Movement’s Board of Trustees participated in a solidarity conference supporting the workers of Samannoud’s textile factory, who are demanding the implementation of the minimum wage.
Bread and Freedom Party (under establishment):
This month, the party began hosting a conference in support of the workers of Samannoud’s textile factory. The party declared its solidarity and support for the workers’ legitimate demands, rejecting the government’s policy of using security forces and detention to intimidate them. Additionally, the party issued a firm rejection of the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law.
The party also called for the release of journalist “Hamdi Mokhtar Ali Mohamed,” known as “Hamdi Al-Zaem,” who is nearing the completion of his fourth year in pretrial detention on charges related to spreading false news in connection with his journalistic work. This demand was made through a petition signed by supporters.
Popular Socialist Alliance Party:
The party continued to criticize the government regarding its recent economic decisions related to the increase in food prices, announcing its full support for the strike by the workers of Samannoud’s textile factory. It also rejected the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law.
Additionally, the party issued a statement expressing solidarity with the head of the Journalists’ Syndicate, Khaled El Balshi, in light of the fierce campaign launched by the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives against him following his public rejection of the Criminal Procedure Law.
The party also released a statement to express condolences to the families of the four victims of the Zagazig train accident in Sharqia, holding Kamel El-Wazir, the Minister of Transport, fully responsible for the incident and criticizing his attempts to evade accountability.
Conservatives Party (Al Mohafezeen Party):
This month, the party focused on issues related to social justice, such as supporting the workers of Samannoud’s textile factory and addressing the challenges faced by farmers.
The party published a report on the status of Egyptian farmers in celebration of Farmers’ Day, highlighting their suffering due to neglect and lack of appreciation. It also pointed out the unreasonable increases in the prices of production inputs, particularly fertilizers and pesticides.
On September 13, the Conservative Party issued a statement expressing its absolute rejection of the so-called amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law and called on all national forces to stand against it.
Additionally, the party organized a seminar titled “A New Page: The Future of Egyptian-Turkish Relations,” featuring former Egyptian Ambassador to Turkey Abdel Rahman Salah El-Din as the speaker. The seminar discussed the improvement in relations between the two countries and the increase in trade volume between them.
Egyptian Social Democratic Party:
The conflicts within the party have become public, with several members announcing an extraordinary general assembly meeting to vote on a motion of no confidence against Farid Zahran as party leader. In response, Farid summoned security forces in an attempt to intimidate his opponents within the party. Security intervened and arrested three young party members who participated in the assembly meeting for the no-confidence vote. The party then issued a statement condemning the events, and the members were subsequently released.
Deputy Samira Al-Jazzar, a Member of Parliament representing the party, submitted a parliamentary question directed at the Prime Minister, the Minister of Transport, and the Minister of Industry regarding the repeated incidents of vehicle overturns on the Matrouh/Siwa road.
The same member also directed a parliamentary question concerning the sit-in and strike by the workers of Samannoud’s textile company in Tanta, who are demanding the minimum wage.
Engineer Ehab Mansour, head of the party’s parliamentary bloc in the House of Representatives, submitted a parliamentary question regarding the exclusion of individuals with one eye from the category of persons with disabilities under Law No. 10 of 2018, which regulates the rights of people with disabilities.
Additionally, the party organized a seminar on the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law in Assiut.
The Current of Hope Party (Tayyar Al-Amal) “under establishment”:
This month, the party showed intense activity on several important issues, such as its solidarity with the residents of EL-Warraq Island against their forced displacement, its participation in the conference supporting the workers of Samannoud’s textile factory, and its support for the head of the Journalists’ Syndicate in light of the attacks from the Legislative and Constitutional Committee in the House of Representatives after his rejection of the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law.
At the beginning of September, the party issued a statement condemning the attempts to forcibly displace the residents of El-Warraq Island, emphasizing its commitment to upholding the constitution, which prohibits arbitrary forced displacement of citizens in all its forms.
The party also expressed solidarity with workers across Egypt in exercising their constitutional rights to strike and demanding the legal minimum wage.
Additionally, the party declared its support for the head of the Journalists’ Syndicate in rejecting the proposed amendments to the Criminal Procedure Law. In its statement, the party emphasized the urgent need for a comprehensive vision that aligns with the law and constitution, preserving citizens’ freedom and legal rights and protecting them from harassment, arrest, searches, and even prosecution.
The party extended its condolences to the families of the dozens of victims and injured individuals from the train accident and condemned the media blackout surrounding the horrific incident, as well as the repeated train accidents and the deteriorating state of the railway networks.
El Karama (Dignity) Party:
The party’s activities this month were highlighted by its policy of supporting the resistance against the Israeli occupation, in addition to its focus on labor issues.
The party’s cultural salon organized a seminar titled “Palestine and the Global Capitalist System: Crimes of the Past and Risks of the Future,” attended by international relations researcher Bassem Hassan.
On September 10, the party sent a congratulatory message to labor leader Hisham Al-Banna upon his release, crediting the struggle of the Samannoud Spinning Factory workers. The party affirmed its full support for the rightful demands of the workers for fair wages and a dignified life.
On September 15, Al-Karama Party hosted a solidarity press conference at its headquarters for the “Support Samannoud Workers” committee under the title “A Month of Samannoud Workers’ Resilience… What Next?” Several labor leaders and activists supportive of the Samannoud workers’ cause spoke at the conference.
The Egyptian Socialist Party:
The party was active this month on regional issues such as the ongoing war in Sudan, as well as on domestic matters like the agricultural crises in Egypt. It also focused on the proposed Criminal Procedure Law reform.
The Revolutionary Socialists Movement:
This month, the movement announced its solidarity with the strike of the workers of Samannoud Spinning Factory, as well as its outright rejection of the proposed Criminal Procedure Law. Additionally, it declared its unconditional support for the resistance against the Israeli occupation.
On September 1, the movement published a report criticizing the government’s decision to shift to cash subsidies instead of in-kind support, stating that this decision would negatively impact low-income citizens amid rising food prices.
The movement also released a press report on the “Protests in France,” noting that the main reason behind the protests is the French left’s search for a way forward after being excluded from the government. This followed nationwide protests after Emmanuel Macron appointed the conservative Michel Barnier as Prime Minister.
Section 2: Professional and Labor Unions in Egypt
Professional Unions:
The Journalists’ Syndicate
The Freedom Committee of the Journalists’ Syndicate, in collaboration with the International Federation of Journalists, organized a research session on the plan to prepare the Syndicate’s Freedom Report.
The Freedom Committee renewed its demands for the release of all imprisoned journalists, both union members and non-members, and for pardons for those who have been convicted in accordance with the law and constitution. These demands, which have been raised several times to the relevant authorities, were submitted to the Public Prosecutor, the Presidential Pardon Committee, and the Board of Trustees of the National Dialogue. A complete list of 23 imprisoned journalists, including 9 Syndicate members, was attached.
The Journalists’ Syndicate called on the government to delay the discussion of the Criminal Procedure Law currently under review by the Legislative Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives and to present it for public debate.
The Journalists’ Syndicate, in cooperation with the Egyptian Publishers Association, is organizing a book fair from September 25 to October 5, 2024. The fair will include seminars celebrating prominent figures in Egyptian journalism and a session on reviving the art of caricature in Egyptian journalism, as well as a portrait exhibition honoring the centenary of the artist Fouad Al-Mohandes.
The Judges Club:
The Egyptian Judges Club announced its rejection of some current proposals in the draft Criminal Procedure Law, which, according to the club, disrupt the courtroom order and limit the judge’s authority to maintain discipline during sessions in case of disruptions.
In its statement, the Judges Club indicated that it will continue to present its perspective to the relevant authorities before the law is finalized by the House of Representatives. The club also announced its intention to invite all heads of chambers in the Court of Cassation, Courts of Appeal, and Primary Courts to a meeting at the club to discuss the implications of these proposals. The aim is to identify all the practical problems arising from the implementation of the proposals, which hinder the achievement of justice, and to present these issues to the House of Representatives.
The Egyptian Lawyers Syndicate:
The General Lawyers Syndicate Council, in its meeting with the heads of the sub-councils to discuss the draft Criminal Procedure Law, decided to prepare an urgent detailed memorandum outlining the contested articles compared to the current law and highlighting the constitutional violations. The memorandum will include alternative proposals for amendments, deletions, and additions and will be submitted to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the head of the Constitutional and Legislative Affairs Committee. The council also called for a legal public dialogue on the matter.
Meanwhile, lawyer Montasser Al-Zayyat, former candidate for the position of Bar Association President, called on his Facebook page for an emergency meeting of the General Assembly of Lawyers, led by the current president, Abdel Halim Allam, to review the draft Criminal Procedure Law and ensure constitutional guarantees for fair justice.
Abdel Halim Allam, the Bar Association President, decided to disburse an exceptional grant of 500 Egyptian pounds to retirees and the same amount to orphans of deceased colleagues, on the occasion of the new school year.
The Egyptian Engineers Syndicate:
The Engineers’ Syndicate President, Tarek Al-Nabarawy, expressed his rejection of the insistence on rushing through the draft Criminal Procedure Law, despite objections from some and calls from others for caution and the continuation of dialogue.
He called on the House of Representatives to take its time in making a decision on the law and to listen to all opinions regarding its provisions, while also encouraging a public dialogue on the matter.
The Egyptian Doctors Syndicate:
The General Syndicate of Doctors announced that it is closely monitoring the situation in Aswan, where a number of citizens have been hospitalized with symptoms of gastrointestinal infections. The general syndicate has been in contact with the Aswan Doctors’ Syndicate to check on the health of the patients and the medical teams working in the hospitals.
During his speech at the General Assembly of Qalyubia Doctors, the Syndicate President reaffirmed the syndicate’s commitment to the necessity of enacting a fair and regulated Medical Liability Law that protects doctors while preserving patients’ rights.
The General Nursing Syndicate:
The General Syndicate of Nursing, in conjunction with the start of the new academic year, renewed its warnings to families and students against enrolling in unaccredited private nursing academies. It noted that these institutions are not authorized to offer any educational programs related to the nursing profession, and therefore, their graduates will not be registered with the Nursing Syndicate or receive a professional practice license.
The Nursing Syndicate President highlighted that, for the first time, a classroom has been allocated specifically for students from tribes, valleys, and remote areas that require nursing teams. This is an unprecedented initiative in Egypt.
The Syndicate of Fine Artists
Artist Tarek Al-Koumi won the position of President of the Syndicate of Fine Artists during the General Assembly elections held at the syndicate’s headquarters in the grounds of the Egyptian Opera House. It is noteworthy that sculptor Tarek Al-Koumi graduated from the Sculpture Department at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Helwan University, in 1985. He previously served as the director of the Mahmoud Mokhtar Museum and is currently working as a full-time visual artist.
The committee overseeing the elections for the General Syndicate Council also announced the names of the winners for the membership seats in the five divisions of the syndicate.
The Agriculture Professionals Syndicate:
Dr. Sayed Khalifa, the President of the Syndicate of Agricultural Engineers, stated that legal action will be taken against those who spread rumors about the cancellation of the agricultural engineer designation granted to graduates of agricultural colleges and those working in the sector. He called on the relevant state authorities to act against the promoters of these rumors, which aim to incite public opinion.
Dr. Sayed Khalifa urged for a national campaign involving the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment to plant mangrove trees along the Red Sea coast to combat the deterioration of mangrove forests in the area due to climate change.
The Teachers Syndicate:
Mohamed Abdel Latif, the Minister of Education and Technical Education, announced the ministry’s plan for the new academic year 2024/2025. One of the most significant changes is that the second foreign language and religious education will become subjects with a pass/fail grading system but will not be included in the overall score. Additionally, the subjects of geology, philosophy, and psychology will be removed from the curriculum.
Teachers of French, psychology, philosophy, and geology have reacted by contesting these decisions, as they consider themselves adversely affected by these changes.
Labor Unions:
The General Union of Workers in Spinning and Weaving:
Workers at the Samannoud Spinning Factory (private sector) went on strike for 35 days, demanding the implementation of the presidential decision to raise the minimum wage to 6,000 Egyptian pounds. Security forces attempted to break up the strike by arresting 10 workers, who were referred to the prosecution but were later released. However, management suspended them from work in preparation for their dismissal. Additionally, the contracts of seven temporary workers who refused to break the strike were terminated. When the health condition of some female workers worsened, the management refused to call for ambulances, and they were transported to hospitals using a tuk-tuk.
The workers ended the strike after the management issued a notice to reinstate 9 of those suspended and increase incentives, but there was no mention of raising the minimum wage. It is worth noting that the workers are denied the right to establish an independent union to represent and defend them.
Trade unions, human rights organizations, and political forces have called for the implementation of the minimum wage during conferences and solidarity events with the strike of the Samannoud Factory workers.
The General Syndicate of Food Industries:
The National Company for Fish Wealth decided to distribute profits to the workers at Birket Ghalioun, located in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, after the workers organized a protest demanding the distribution of profit shares, their rights to social and health insurance, transportation to their workplace, and an end to the difficulties in obtaining security permits. The company promised the protesting workers to implement a career progression system and to fulfill their remaining demands.
The Independent Professional Syndicate of Tourism Workers:
The Supreme Constitutional Court ruled that the proceeds from the service charge in hotels and tourist establishments should be distributed 100% to the employees of the establishment. This was followed by a decision from the Minister of Labor to implement the ruling and cancel all previous decisions that contradict or conflict with its provisions. This success crowned the efforts of five employees in the tourism sector who filed the lawsuit after decades of waiting.
The General Syndicate of Engineering Industries:
Workers at the Steel Company for Mines and Quarries, which includes the Bahariya Oasis quarry, the Beni Khalid quarry in Minya, and the Al-Adabiya quarry in Suez, submitted requests for the provision of three complete meals, similar to other companies, as stipulated in Article (23) of the Mining and Quarries Law No. 27 of 1981.
Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF):
The Workers’ Union participated for the first time officially in the 13th Trade Union Forum of the BRICS countries after Abdel-Monim El-Gamal, the head of the Workers’ Union, signed the agreement for Egypt to join the BRICS Trade Unions Forum.
The Workers’ Union presented a comprehensive analytical vision, during which it proposed several solutions and suggestions for developing the performance of the Egyptian trade union.
The General Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions decided to form a legal committee to investigate the legal status of the seven general unions that are currently not represented in the federation’s board for various reasons. This is aimed at enabling these unions to participate in the board alongside the election of the new president of the federation.
The General Syndicate of Construction and Wood:
The project manager of the “Telal El Sokhna” site at “Roeya” Contracting Company refused to officially receive a memorandum outlining the workers’ demands, instead opting to send it via email to the company’s management in Cairo. Subsequently, the company management informed them that nine workers had been referred for investigation. The memorandum submitted by the workers followed a protest they held at the Telal El Sokhna and Katameya sites, where they demanded job benefits that the management had neglected since the change in the company’s administration, which was transferred to the “Pioneer” group for securities, whose owner is a member of the “Homeland Future” party which has close ties to the state.
General Syndicate of Workers in Prosecutions and Courts:
Kareem Abdel-Baqi was officially elected as the President of the General Syndicate of Workers in Prosecutions and Courts during the regular General Assembly of the syndicate. This decision allows him to be included in the membership of the board of the General Federation of Egyptian Trade Unions, replacing the previous “acting officer” position.
Center for Trade Unions and Workers Services:
Lawyers from the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services succeeded in obtaining a historic ruling from the Administrative Court to abolish the requirement of union membership for obtaining a professional driving license, which was imposed by the traffic law for drivers. This ruling has significant legal implications, primarily regarding union coercion and the removal of workers’ right to choose.
The Center stated in a press release that a set of maneuvers was agreed upon to pressure for the implementation of the ruling, starting with notifying the Ministry of Interior and the Traffic Department through their legal representatives, specifically the State Litigation Authority. They also clarified that failure to execute the ruling by the responsible employee could lead to criminal liability for refusing to implement a court ruling.
The Center for Trade Union and Labor Services organized a training course on the introductory program for preparing union leaders and cadres on Saturday and Sunday, August 31 and September 1, at its headquarters in Alexandria, in collaboration with the Mondelēz Egypt Union, with the participation of 17 members from the union’s General Assembly.
Section Three: Human Rights Organizations:
First: The most important activities, publications and initiatives of human rights institutions
National Council for Human Rights:
On August 30, the Civil and Political Rights Committee of the Council held a meeting at the Diplomatic Club in Cairo to discuss the U.S. Department of State’s report on the state of religious freedom in the world during 2023, specifically the section concerning Egypt.
The National Council, in collaboration with the United Nations Population Fund, organized a competition for university students to encourage them to discover and understand reproductive rights and health through the production of visual and auditory materials and their impact on society.
On September 5, the Chairperson of the National Council stated that, during the national dialogue sessions, the President responded by releasing 151 defendants who were held in pretrial detention. She described these decisions as a remarkable step, asserting that the amendment of the new Criminal Procedure Law would resolve the pretrial detention crisis and alleviate the issues surrounding it.
The month concluded with the Chairperson of the National Council claiming that there is a possibility of reducing the Council’s international status due to a complaint from Bahey El-Din Hassan, as he is the grandfather of Alaa Abdel-Fattah’s son, who is currently imprisoned, rather than due to the illegal imprisonment of Alaa or violations of his rights. She did not mention that Bahey El-Din Hassan is the head of the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
The Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights:
On September 16, 2024, the initiative announced that despite the issuance of decisions for the release of student Ahmed Sabry Nasif, the Ministry of Interior has refused to implement these decisions and continues to detain him unlawfully.
The initiative also published an infographic about death sentences in Egypt during July 2024, which included a total of 36 death sentences, in addition to referring the papers of 14 defendants to the Mufti (a legal step before executing them) in nine other cases.
The Egyptian Center for Economic and Social Rights:
The center published a policy paper titled “Mental Health of Workers: The Overlooked Right from Occupational Health and Safety Standards,” aimed at highlighting the psychological health of workers in the workplace.
On September 14, 2024, a new tripartite committee formed from the Experts Authority of the Ministry of Justice, specifically the South Giza Experts Sector, along with lawyers from the Egyptian Center and the office of Mr. Khaled Ali, as well as lawyers from Nazlet El-Semman, visited the Nazlet El-Semman area and the homes that were subject to demolition. They assessed the situation on the ground before the issuance of the expropriation decision for public benefit, in the second litigation concerning the demolitions in the area.
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
The Commission issued a report on violations against workers, titled “Either Termination or Imprisonment,” highlighting ongoing repression throughout 2023.
It also published a study titled “Guarantees of a Fair Trial and Aspects of Their Violation in Egyptian Criminal Legislation.”
On September 25, the Commission released a study titled “Law Enforcement Agencies in Egyptian Legislation and Their Role in Achieving Criminal Justice,” which discusses the roles of the police, prosecution, and judiciary.
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression:
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression submitted five complaints to the Public Prosecutor demanding the mandatory release of poet Jalal Al-Bahiri, translator Marwa Arafa, journalist Karim Salem, photojournalist Hamdi Al-Zaeem, and assistant professor at Alexandria University, Ahmed Al-Tohamy, due to their continued detention in violation of the law for exceeding the legally stipulated period for pretrial detention.
Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS)
On August 31, CTUWS announced a meeting that took place on Thursday, August 29, where the management of the Samanoud Weaving Company rejected the workers’ demand to increase the minimum wage.
On September 3, 2024, CTUWS organized a training workshop in Alexandria on the introductory program for preparing trade union leaders and cadres in collaboration with the Mondelēz Egypt Union. On September 10, the company management refused to respond to the workers’ memorandum of demands and summoned them for questioning.
On September 8, workers at Ro’ya Construction Company held a protest at their workplace, which lasted from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, demanding the payment of outstanding financial dues, salaries increases, profits, and the resumption of suspended medical insurance.
Centre for Egyptian Women Legal Assistance (CEWLA)
On September 1, 2024, the Anti-Violence Against Women Program held an awareness seminar for women in the Bulaq al-Dakrour area on “Reporting Mechanisms and Legal Protection in Cases of Digital Violence.”
On September 8, CEWLA conducted a workshop on “Drafting a Unified Law Against Violence,” funded by the British Embassy in Cairo.
On September 16, the Access to Justice Program organized an awareness seminar attended by 30 women in the Ain Shams area, discussing the Egyptian Constitution and discriminatory laws against women.
Masaar – Society for Technology and Law
On September 9, 2024, Masaar released a paper that tracks the historical development of the crime of “spreading false news abroad” in an attempt to understand the unnecessary expansion of its interpretation and the lack of a precise definition.
On September 23, Masaar published a legal memorandum arguing the unconstitutionality of the crime of “spreading false news abroad” (Article 80D of the Penal Code).
New Woman Foundation:
On September 2, 2024, “New Woman Foundation” published a statement regarding the obstacles to referring cases of violence against women to state institutions and the need for the relevant authorities to take the necessary measures and act promptly.
On September 14, “New Woman” organized a roundtable in Qena on protection policies from violence, focusing on the new labor law and Convention 190.
On September 15, “New Woman” released its first report from the 190 Observatory on violence against women workers in the informal sector, as part of the Women, Work, and Economic Rights program, to shed light on the phenomenon of violence against women in workplaces, monitor its forms, and analyze its negative impact on women.
Joint Human Rights Activities:
Human rights organizations announced in a joint statement the hunger strike declared by activist Mohamed Adel. His family submitted an official report to the Public Prosecutor to document this, demanding that the time he spent in pretrial detention be included in his current sentence.
On September 11, human rights organizations published a joint statement against the new Criminal Procedure Law, condemning it for undermining the basic principles of a fair trial.
Additionally, human rights organizations and individuals signed an online petition calling for the release of photojournalist “Hamdy Mokhtar Ali Mohamed,” known as “Hamdy El-Zaeem,” who is approaching his fifth year in pretrial detention since January 2020 in case No. 955 of 2020 (State Security Prosecution).:
Secondly: Violations and Harassment
1- Renewal of Detention:
On September 1, 2024, the Supreme State Security Prosecution decided to renew the detention of cartoonist Ashraf Omar for 15 days in case No. 1568 of 2024 (Supreme State Security). On September 17, the prosecution decided to extend his detention for another 15 days.
On September 4, 2024, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of photojournalist Hamdy El-Zaeem and 21 other defendants for 45 days in connection with cases No. 955 of 2020 and No. 330 of 2022 (Supreme State Security).
On September 5, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered the release of Dr. Hany Suleiman and 150 defendants under residence guarantee in connection with various State Security cases.
On September 8, 2024, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of translator Marwa Arafa for 45 days in case No. 570 of 2020 (Supreme State Security), in violation of procedural law as her pretrial detention has exceeded four and a half years.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution also renewed the detention of journalist Yasser Abul-Ala for 15 days in case No. 1568 of 2024 (Supreme State Security).
Additionally, the Supreme State Security Prosecution renewed the detention of engineer Yehia Hussein Abdel Hadi for 15 days in case No. 3916 of 2024 (Supreme State Security), and on September 22, the prosecution decided to extend his detention for another 15 days.
On September 9, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of 19 defendants, including three lawyers and journalist Tawfik Ghanem, for 45 days in connection with various State Security cases.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution also decided to renew the detention of labor leader Shady Ali and five others in connection with various State Security cases for 15 days.
On September 17, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of teacher Yehia Ibrahim for 45 days in case No. 2207 of 2021 (Supreme State Security).
On September 22, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of journalist Mohamed Saad Khattab Heggy for 45 days in case No. 2063 of 2023 (Supreme State Security).
The Criminal Court “Terrorism Circuit” also renewed the detention of 17 defendants in various cases for 45 days, including human rights lawyer Ibrahim Metwally and human rights lawyer Hoda Abdel Moneim.
On September 23, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of journalist Mostafa El-Khatib and Medhat Ramadan for 45 days in two separate cases.
On September 24, the Cairo Terrorism Criminal Court renewed the detention of academic Ahmed El-Tohamy, engineer Hassan Abdel Hamid, and some fans of Zamalek Club for 45 days in various cases.
2- Judicial Rulings
The Administrative Court decided to postpone the hearing of researcher Ahmed Samir Santawy’s case, in which he challenges the Ministry of Interior’s decision to prevent him from traveling without legal justification, to the session on November 10.
The trial of journalist Hassan Al-Qabbani, who is facing a life sentence in absentia due to a case of mistaken identity related to the dispersal of Rabaa, was postponed for the fifth time to the session on November 12.
On September 24, the Administrative Court in Mansoura set October 7 as the date to hear the urgent appeal in case No. 67241 of 46Q Administrative Mansoura, regarding the failure to count the pretrial detention period as part of the four-year sentence of Mohamed Adel in case No. 2981 of 2023 (Aga Misdemeanor Court).
On September 25, the Labor Circuit of the East Tanta Primary Court decided to postpone the hearing of case No. 292 of 2024 (East Tanta Labor Court), filed by Samannoud Textiles and Fabrics Company, which suspended ten workers while paying them half of their basic salary until the investigation of case No. 7648 of 2024 (Administrative Samannoud Center) filed by the company against the workers is completed..
3- Legal Victories
On September 1, 2024, the Misdemeanor Appeals Court of Mahalla El-Kubra decided to release seven workers from Samannoud Textiles and Fabrics Company on a bail of 1,000 EGP each, pending case No. 7648 of 2024 (Administrative Samannoud), in relation to their participation in a strike demanding the implementation of the minimum wage. However, the appeal of worker Hesham El-Banna was rejected, and his detention continued. On September 9, the East Tanta Public Prosecution ordered the release of unionist Hesham El-Banna.