Woman human rights defender Sanaa Seif condemned to 18 months of imprisonment  

On 17 March, Cairo Criminal Court sentenced woman human rights defender Sanaa Seif in case 12499/2020 to one and a half year of imprisonment. She is accused of publishing and broadcasting false news and statements inciting the disturbance of public security, insulting a public official while he was carrying out his duties, using an internet account with the aim of committing a crime punishable by law, and verbally insulting one of the personnel in charge of carrying out arrest warrants. 

Sanaa Seif is a woman human rights defender and film editor. She is the youngest sister of prominent activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who has been in pre-trial detention since September 2019.  

Rejection of journalist Hisham Gaafar's appeal against the decision to put him on the terrorist entities list 

On 11 March, the Court of Cassation rejected journalist Hisham Gaafar’s appeal against the decision to put him on the list of terrorist entities for a period of 5 years.  

Hisham Gaafar is the director of the Mada Foundation for Media Development and a member of the Journalists’ Syndicate. He was added to the list of terrorist entities in 30 April 2018 by Cairo’s Criminal Court.  

Human rights lawyer Haitham Mohamedeen’s detention renewed 

On 10 March, Cairo Criminal Court added human rights lawyer Haitham Mohamedeen to case 1956/2019. He is accused of joining a terrorist group, and is being held in pre-trial detention. This new case came after the Court ordered his release in case 741/2019 with precautionary measures on 7 March, further evidence of the widespread practice of the authorities “recycling” of cases of activists to ensure that they stay in pre-trial detention for longer than the legal maximum of two years. 

Haitham Mohamedeen is a labour rights lawyer and left-wing activist. He participated in several protests against the Sisi regime, including in 2016 following the transfer of the Red Sea islands of Tiran and Sanafir to Saudi Arabia and in 2018 against the increase in the price of metro tickets. He has been held in pre-trial detention since 13 May 2019. 

Detention renewal of human rights lawyer Sayed al-Banna 

On 9 March, Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of human rights lawyer Sayed al-Banna for 45 days in state security case 880/2020. He faces charges of joining a terrorist organisation, misusing social media, publishing false news, and inciting protests. 
 

Detention renewal of human rights defender Mohamed Adel 

On 7 March, Mansoura Prosecution renewed the detention of human rights defender Mohamed Adel for 15 days in case 4118/2018, in which he faces charges of joining a terrorist group and publishing false news. 

Mohamed Adel is a human rights activist and is one of the founders of the April 6 youth movement in Egypt. He has been detained since June 2018. 
 

Detention renewal of journalists Hesham Fouad & Hossam Moanes 

On 7 March, Cairo Criminal Court renewed the detention of journalists Hossam Moanes and Hesham Fouad for 45 days in state security case 930/2019. They are charged with participating in a terrorist group and publishing false news.