Hossam Shatata – disappeared 11 Februari 2009

Hossam Shahata, a member of liberal opposition party Al-Ghad, disappeared in Cairo on the 11 February and is believed to have been detained for Gaza-related activism.

Daily News Egypt reports: “According to independent daily El-Badeel, Shehata disappeared on Feb. 11, 2009. He had apparently gone to the public prosecution office to report attempts by state security investigations forces to arrest him, and reportedly sent a text message to newspapers including El-Badeel which read, “state security officers are looking for me right now and have set up an ambush outside my house in order to arrest me. They asked my family and neighbors about me who rang me on the telephone and told me not to go home.”

When Shehata’s friends went to the public prosecution office to join him, he had disappeared but his car was still parked outside the office. Writing on his blog (anos.maktoobblog.com) Ahmed Abdel Naby says that Shehata had driven activists to the Rafah Crossing in his car during the Israeli attack on Gaza. Among these activists were Douma and Gad.”

And from Egypt and Beyond: “A lawyer from the Hisham Mubarak Law Center and a member of al-Ghad both confirm that Hossam Shahata did visit Rafah – but without crossing the border to Gaza. Hossam Shahata and Diaa Gad also held a protest outside the public prosecutors office demanding the release of Magdy Hussein, almost three weeks ago – according to a jaiku sent by Gad at that time. So the disappearance of Gad and Shahata is very likely to be connected.”

Ahmed Doma – Military Trial and Prison for Visiting Gaza in Solidarity with the Palestinian People

Ahmed Doma

On Tuesday 10 February, activist Ahmed Abou Doma was handed a one-year prison term in a military tribunal for crossing into Gaza and allegedly “joining one of Hamas’ military wings.” Iqbal Tamimi reports: “The Egyptian blogger was arrested … upon his return from the Gaza Strip through the Rafah crossing. The Egyptian authorities accused him of infiltrating across the eastern border illegally in violation of the presidential decree 298 of 1995. /—/ The Federation of The Arab bloggers demanded from the Egyptian authorities to release him immediately and unconditionally, claiming that the blogger Ahmed Domah did not commit a criminal act, on the contrary, he went to Gaza to offer his support to Gaza people.”

Mohamed Adel – detained since 20 November

Mohamed Adel

The Daily News reports: “On Nov. 20, 2008, 20-year-old IT student and political activist Mohamed Adel was surrounded by a large group of men in plain clothing while he was sitting in a Downtown Cairo café, and bundled into a car. Rights NGO the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) suggested in a statement issued last year that the police had tapped Adel’s mobile phone and snatched him on his way to a meeting with a foreign journalist. A  formal arrest warrant was issued on Nov. 24 — four days after Adel’s disappearance. When Adel’s father, Adel Fahmy, went to see his son in Cairo’s Tora Prison on Dec. 8 — after receiving information that his son was being held there — prison authorities told him that “they were not at liberty to give him any information” about Adel and prevented Fahmy from seeing him.

According to RSF, Mohammed Adel makes clear his support for Hamas on his blog and openly criticises President Mubarak, accusing him of “being more concerned about the security of Israelis than of the Palestinian people”. The arrest confirm Egypt’s place among the 15 countries we list as ‘Internet Enemies’”, the worldwide press freedom organisation said. “When it comes to silencing a blogger, who by definition does not have a news organisation ready to publicly support him, the Egyptian authorities do not bother themselves with following the most basic rules of law”.

The Daily News reports that the first hearing of a case lodged against the Interior Minister on behalf of Adel has been adjorned by the Administrative Court until March 23. “The petition demands that Adel’s whereabouts, and the reason for his continued detention, be revealed. It also calls for LE 1 million in damages to be awarded to Adel for the financial and psychological harm caused by his detention.”

Magdy Hussein: Military Trial and Prison for Visiting Gaza in Solidarity with the Palestinian People.

Magdy Hussein

On Wednesday 11 February, Magdy Hussein, head of the Labour Party, was sentenced to 2 years in prison for visiting Gaza in solidarity with the Palestinian people. This is the background from the Egyptian Organization For Human Rights: “Hussein traveled to Gaza Strip to express Egyptian people’s solidarity with Palestinian case. The Egyptian authority stopped him as soon as he had arrived at Rafah Crossing after his return from Gaza Strip on Saturday 31/1/2009. He was charged with “sneaking to Gaza Strip illegally” . The investigations were conducted at the military prosecution at El Arish governorate which issued its decision on 3/2/2009 by submitting “Magdy Ahmed Hussein” to the military court in case NO.11 -2009- military Misdemeanor. The military court issued its decision according to the presidential decision No.298 -1995.

EOHR states that “submitting civilians to the military courts is a decision that violates the Egyptian Constitution and the international conventions concerning the right to fair trial which is one of the most important foundations for achieving justice and equal opportunity without prejudice the rights of other citizens. Article 68 of the Egyptian Constitution provided that “Litigation is a right guaranteed to all people and each citizen has the right to resort to the natural judge, the State guarantees the rapid disposition of cases ””

Diaa Eddin Gad – detained 6 Februari 2009

From Egypt and Beyond: “23-year old blogger Diaa Eddin Gad was detained by Egyptian state security in front of his family’s house in a village outside Tanta on 6 February 2009. Michael Slackman reports for IHT: “Gad was seated at his computer working on his blog. His mother had just laid out lunch and his older sister was behind him studying for medical school. His phone rang, he walked outside, so as not to disturb his sister, and was jumped by four officers.”

One week later, the authorities still refused to say where he was beeing held, or why he was detained. A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior told the IHT that “related bodies are examining his case,” describing the kidnapping and incommunicado detention as “regular procedure.” (Which is true of course, if you are working for a mafia).

According to the IHT, Gad was arrested after taking part in a peaceful demonstration in Cairo, organized by the liberal Wafd party, and he has also been described as a member of the Kifaya movement. He is the author of a blog called Sawt Ghadib, or “angry voice”, where he has expressed support for the Palestinian struggle and criticism of the Egyptian regime for it’s participation in the siege of Gaza.

According to The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information “bloggers have become a major target of the police authorities in Egypt and all these assaults are committed outside the law or under the cloak of the emergency state. ANHRI demands that all defenders of freedom of expression join hands to bring an end to this abominable state of emergency.”