The Observatory has been informed by reliable sourcesabout the pursuit of the arbitrary detention and judicial harassment of Dr. Shadial-Ghazali Harb, human rights defender known for his role as a youthactivist and leader in the 2011 revolution.
According to the information received, on January 8,2019, Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb pre-trial detention was renewed for 45 days. Heis accused of “joining a group established in violation to the provisions ofthe law and the constitution with the aim to disrupt state institutions, spreadfalse news, and humiliate the President” (see background information). He isdetained in solitary confinement at Qanater prison since May 16, 2018. At thetime of publication of this appeal, his pre-trial detention had already beenrenewed 10 times for 15 days and three times for 45 days.
On January 25, 2019, on the day of the EgyptianRevolution’s eighth anniversary, Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb started a hungerstrike to denounce his continuing arbitrary detention.
The Observatory recalls that the judicial harassmentand arbitrary detention of Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb’s occurs in the context ofa wave of arrests targeting human rights defenders in Egypt that started in May2018[1].
The Observatory condemns in the strongest terms thisrenewed crackdown targeting human rights defenders, and urges the Egyptianauthorities to immediately and unconditionally release Dr. Shadi al-GhazaliHarb, whose arbitrary detention only aims at sanctioning his human rightsactivities. Until then, the Observatory calls on the Egyptian authorities toguarantee the psychological and physical integrity of all human rightsdefenders.
The Observatory more generally urges the Egyptianauthorities to put an end to all forms of harassment against them, including atthe judicial level, and to refrain from further punishing their peaceful andlegitimate human rights activities under trumped up, often terrorism-relatedcharges.
Background information:
On May 15, 2018, Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb wasarrested after he presented himself to the office of the general prosecution inGiza where he had been summoned by a warrant from the North Giza Court.Although he was initially granted a 50,000 EGP bail (approx. 2,400 Euros), hewas then transferred to the Dokki police station where he was detainedovernight.
On May 16, 2018 the State Security Prosecution orderedhis detention for 15 days pending investigation into charges of case no. 621 of2018, which is targeting a number of human rights defenders, bloggers andonline activists.
Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb is being detained insolitary confinement at Qanater prison, where he does not have regular accessto his family and lawyers. During the first 15 days of his detention, he was evendenied access to a bed and he was not allowed to go outdoors.
On July 25, 2018, the pre-trial detention of Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb, has again beenrenewed for 15 days. Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb has been transferred to a newcell and his conditions of detention have deteriorated. His new cell is verydirty, hot, and no ventilation is available.
How You Can Help
Please write to the authorities of Egypt asking themto:
- Guarantee in allcircumstances the physical and psychological integrity of Dr. Shadi al-GhazaliHarb, his relatives and all human rights defenders in Egypt;
- Immediately andunconditionally release Dr. Shadi al-Ghazali Harb as his detention isarbitrary;
- Put an end to all actsof harassment, including at the judicial level, against Dr. Shadi al-GhazaliHarb and all human rights defenders in Egypt, and ensure that they are able tocarry out their activities without hindrance;
- Conform with theprovisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by theGeneral Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially Articles1, 6(c) and 12.2; and
- More generally, ensurein all circumstances the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms inaccordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and withinternational and regional human rights instruments ratified by Egypt.
