Egypt Jails Activist Douma Over Article Criticizing Countrys Prisons

Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma has been sentenced to one year of prison with labor for allegedly spreading fake news, according to state media Akhbar al-Youm. The sentence was handed down by an Egyptian court on Wednesday.

Douma, a prominent figure in the 2011 uprising that led to the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, had been released from prison in August 2023 after serving almost 10 years behind bars due to a presidential pardon. However, he has since been repeatedly arrested and charged with various offenses, including spreading fake news.

According to Amnesty International, Douma was most recently detained in April after publishing an article in the London-based Al-Araby Al-Jadeed about Egypt’s prison conditions. The rights group stated that Douma had been held under restrictive conditions prior to his sentencing, including limited visits and excessive exposure to light.

Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights also expressed concerns over Douma’s case, stating that it reflected his own experiences in prison and made the imprisonment on fake news charges “unconstitutional”. PEN America described the sentence as “disgraceful”, citing the use of poems and articles as courtroom evidence against writers in Egypt.

Amnesty International condemned Douma’s sentencing, calling it an attack on freedom of expression. The organization stated that the renewed imprisonment was a devastating blow to the right to free speech. Mahmoud Shalaby, Amnesty International’s regional researcher, called for Douma’s immediate release and the quashing of his sentence, stating that it was part of a broader campaign to restrict civic space.

Douma is a prominent figure in Egypt’s 2011 uprising and has been subject to repeated interrogations, charges, and releases on bail since his pardon. The Egyptian government has also faced criticism for its crackdown on online content creators, including young female influencers and comedians who have been imprisoned.

Source: Al Jazeera