Tawfik Ghanem, a 68-year-old Egyptian journalist, has been arbitrarily detained since May 21, 2021 without trial, pending investigations by the Supreme State Security Prosecution into charges of “spreading false news” and “misusing social media”, among others. Authorities in Badr 1 prison, where he is held, continue to deny him access to adequate healthcare, including transfer to hospital and medication, for his numerous health conditions including diabetes, a bone disease and a skin condition. He should be released immediately and unconditionally as he is held solely in connection with his legitimate media work.
PLEASE TAKE ACTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE UNTIL: January 9, 2025
take action:
- Write a letter in your own words or using the sample below as a guide to one or both government officials listed. You can also email, fax, call or Tweet them.
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contact information:
Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky Ayyad
Office of the Public Prosecutor; Madinat al-Rehab;
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
Fax: +202 2577 4716
Twitter/X: @EgyptianPPO
Egyptian Embassy in the United States
Ambassador Motaz Mounir Zahran
3521 International Court, NW,
Washington DC 20008
Email: [email protected]
sample letter:
Dear Counsellor,
Tawfik Ghanem has been arbitrarily detained since May 21, 2021, solely because of his legitimate media work, as the former regional director of Anadolu Agency, a state-run Turkish news agency. Following his arrest, Egyptian authorities subjected Tawfik Ghanem to enforced disappearance for five days during which he was interrogated without a lawyer present about his previous work at Anadolu Agency. Since then, authorities renewed his pretrial detention without allowing him to meaningfully challenge the lawfulness of his detention. His pretrial detention has exceeded the maximum limit of two years permissible under Egyptian law.
Since his arrest, authorities have denied him his rights to consult a lawyer of his choosing in private and to adequate defense. Tawfik Ghanem is held in Badr 1 prison, some 70km northeast of Cairo, and denied access to adequate healthcare. His family said that since his arrest he has lost about 20kg, and that he suffers from several medical conditions. For his treatment, he is forced to rely mostly on advice from doctors imprisoned with him.
I urge you to ensure that Tawfik Ghanem is immediately and unconditionally released and all charges against him dropped as he is detained solely for his media work. Pending his release, he must be granted regular access to his family, lawyers, and adequate healthcare, and held in conditions that comply with international standards for the treatment of prisoners.
Yours sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
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