Law and Democracy Support Foundation today expressed its grave concern over the decision by the Supreme State Security Prosecution to refer independent translator and researcher Marwa Arafa to criminal trial. This decision comes after her pre-trial detention for over five years, pending investigations in Case No. 570 of 2020, Supreme State Security, on charges including spreading false news, misusing social media, joining a terrorist group, and promoting its objectives.
Marwa Arafa was arrested on April 20, 2020, from her home in front of her infant daughter and subjected to enforced disappearance for 14 days before appearing before the Supreme State Security Prosecution. She was charged with vague accusations stemming from her peaceful expression of opinions and was denied contact with her family or lawyer throughout her disappearance.
The Supreme State Security Prosecution deliberately kept the researcher in detention for more than five years by repeatedly requesting extensions of her pre-trial detention, despite exceeding the maximum period of pre-trial detention stipulated in Egyptian criminal procedure law.
It is worth noting that the Supreme State Security Prosecution has consistently played a significant role in punishing thousands of political and human rights activists and opinion holders in recent years by detaining them pre-trial for prolonged periods. This methodology relies on issuing vague “ready-made” charges in political cases, based solely on security investigations, and in the absence of strong and sufficient evidence that meets the legal conditions for pre-trial detention or conforms to what the Court of Cassation has stipulated regarding evidence.
LDSF reiterated its strong condemnation of the Egyptian authorities’ adoption of a new methodology: referring political cases to criminal trials after years of arbitrary detention. The Foundation believes that this approach represents an attempt to legalize the punishment of pre-trial detention victims and justify their unlawful detention for years without any judicial convictions, instead of releasing them, compensating them, and holding those responsible for their abuse accountable.
LDSF demands the immediate and unconditional release of Marwa Arafa. It calls for dropping all charges against her, which lack any serious legal basis. It also demands an end to the use of criminal trials as a means to retroactively legitimize pre-trial detention. Furthermore, it calls for ensuring her right to a fair and impartial trial in accordance with the Constitution, Egyptian legislation, and international standards. Finally, it demands accountability for those responsible for the crime of enforced disappearance and the grave violations that accompanied it, as well as accountability for those responsible for her detention for years without trial.
