Case Dropped Against Four Human Rights Defenders and their NGOs
On 30 August, the Investigative Judge authorised by the Cairo Court of Appeal to investigate case no.173 of 2011 (known as the foreign funding case) has decided to drop the case against human rights defenders Azza Soliman, Negad El Borei, Magdi Abdel Hameed and Hossameldin Ali and their human rights NGOs.
On 2 October, at approximately 10.00 AM, human rights defender Magdy Abdel Hamid was prevented from travelling from Cairo airport while en route to the Policy Forum on Development, organised under the EU Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
Dr. Magdy Abdel Hamid is the chairman of the Egyptian Association for Community Participation Enhancement (EACPE). The EACPE works to strengthen the engagement of Egyptians within civil society, public spaces, and policy forums. The organization has also worked to promote gender engagement and women’s participation in policy dialogue.
On 30 August, the Investigative Judge authorised by the Cairo Court of Appeal to investigate case no.173 of 2011 (known as the foreign funding case) has decided to drop the case against human rights defenders Azza Soliman, Negad El Borei, Magdi Abdel Hameed and Hossameldin Ali and their human rights NGOs. The decision ensures the aquittal of the human rights defenders from all charges. However, there are legal procedures still need to be taken to remove their names from the travel ban lists and lift the assets freeze for their personal and institutional assets.
On 2 October, at approximately 10.00 AM, human rights defender Magdy Abdel Hamid was prevented from travelling from Cairo airport while en route to the Policy Forum on Development, organised under the EU Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.
Download the Urgent Appeal (PDF)
On 2 October, at approximately 10.00 AM, Magdy Abdel Hamid was banned from travelling at the passport control section of Cairo airport while en route to the Policy Forum on Development organised under the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership in Amman, Jordan. The human rights defender was not notified of a travel ban prior to his flight.
Front Line Defenders is concerned about the travel restrictions imposed on Magdy Abdel Hamid, which is part of a pattern of sustained harassment of Egyptian human rights defenders.
Over the past three years, dozens of Egyptian rights organisations have faced charges under the so-called foreign funding case (Case No. 173), with some leaders and staff members charged with “receipt of illegal foreign funding” and “working without legal permission”. Several HRDs were issued travel bans in connection with the case, including Azza Soliman, Mohamed Zaree, Mozn Hassan, Hossameldin Ali, Ahmed Ghonim, Bassim Samir, Esraa Abdel Fattah, Hoda Abdelwahab, Nasser Amin and Ahmed Ragheb.
Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Egypt to:
1. Immediately and unconditionally remove the travel ban imposed against Magdy Abdel Hamid and all other human rights defenders facing travel restrictions in Egypt, as Front Line Defenders believes that they are being restricted solely as a result of their legitimate and peaceful work in the defence of human rights;
2. Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Egypt are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.
