June 4, 2026
The Arab Foundation for Civil Society Support and Human Rights expresses its deep concern over the judicial ruling issued by the Fifth Settlement Misdemeanor Court on Wednesday, June 3, sentencing political activist and writer Ahmed Douma to one year in prison with hard labor and immediate enforcement after convicting him of “spreading false news and information.” The ruling casts a heavy shadow over the state of freedom of expression in Egypt.
The verdict was issued in Case No. 4894 of 2026 (Fifth Settlement Misdemeanor Court), following weeks of proceedings related to an article written by Douma in March under the title “From the Prison Within the State to the State Within the Prison,” published by The New Arab, in addition to several posts he shared on social media platforms.
The Foundation believes that the use of custodial sentences in response to the peaceful expression of opinions constitutes a clear violation of fundamental rights guaranteed by the Egyptian Constitution and by international human rights treaties ratified by Egypt.
This latest ruling against Ahmed Douma raises serious concerns regarding the continued use of legal provisions and judicial procedures to restrict public space and punish critical voices, rather than protecting the right to freedom of expression and the diversity of opinions.
It also reinforces concerns about the recurrence of judicial prosecutions against individuals who have previously been released or included in presidential pardon decisions, only to find themselves once again facing new trials or charges linked to the exercise of their fundamental rights.
In this context, the Foundation has followed with concern the referral of several activists to expedited trials despite some of them having previously benefited from presidential pardons or being released after years of detention. Among them are Ahmed Douma and Sayed Mashagheb, raising legitimate questions about the effectiveness of pardon and release measures when they are not accompanied by genuine guarantees against the renewed targeting of individuals for their peaceful views and positions.
The Foundation also expresses its profound concern regarding the continued security and judicial prosecutions targeting a number of journalists, artists, and activists in recent months, including filmmaker Omar Marai and cartoonist Ashraf Omar.
These developments reflect a troubling pattern of restrictions on freedom of expression, artistic creativity, and public participation, indicating an expanding scope of targeting that affects various categories of opinion holders.
Sherif Helaly, Executive Director of the Foundation, emphasized that the Egyptian Constitution, through its various provisions, guarantees freedom of thought, opinion, and artistic and literary creativity. It also safeguards citizens’ right to express their views through speech, writing, or any other means of expression and publication.
The Foundation therefore calls for an end to judicial and security prosecutions against individuals on account of their opinions or their journalistic, artistic, and creative work. It further urges the release of all persons detained for exercising their rights to freedom of opinion, expression, and peaceful assembly.
