Urgent Action update: Amal Fathy sentenced for her peaceful activism in Egypt
On 29 September, Egyptian woman human rights defender, Amal Fathy, was sentenced to two years in prison and a fine of 10,000 EGP (560 USD). The bail to temporarily suspend her sentence was set at 20,000 EGP (1,120 USD). The court convicted Amal on three accounts and sentenced her to one year for each of the charges of "spreading false news with intent to harm the Egyptian state" and possessing “indecent material”, and given a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds (560 USD) for making “public insults”- all of this for posting a Facebook video in which she decries sexual harassment and criticizes the Egyptian authorities for failing to protect women. Amnesty International considers Amal Fathy to be a prisoner of conscience detained solely for the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.
Take action
Write or email calling on authorities to:
- Immediately and unconditionally release Amal Fathy as she is a prisoner of conscience, detained solely for peacefully expressing her opinions;
- Recognize the legitimate work of human rights defenders, like Amal Fathy, and ensure they can carry out their activities without undue restrictions or fear of reprisals, as set out in the 1998 UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders.
Contact these officials before 14th November:
President
Abdel Fattah al-Sisi
Office of the President
Al Ittihadia Palace,
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
Fax +202 2391 1441
Email :p.spokesman@op.gov.eg
Twitter: @AlsisiOfficial
Salutation: Your Excellency
Public Prosecutor
Nabil Sadek
Office of the Public Prosecutor, Dar alQada al-Ali, Down Town
Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt
Fax: +202 2577 4716
Salutation: Dear Counsellor
Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Human Rights
Ahmed Ihab Gamal el-Din
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Corniche el-Nile,
Cairo, Egypt.
Fax: +202 2574 9713
Email: contact.us@mfa.gov.eg
Twitter: @MfaEgypt
Salutation: Dear Minister
With copies to: His Excellency Mr Nasser Ahmed Kamel Ali, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt, 26 South Street W1K 1DW, 020 7499 3304/2401, Fax 020 7491 1542, eg.emb_london@mfa.gov.eg and etembuk@hotmail.com.