The Supreme State Security Prosecution has ordered the pretrial detention of lawyer Mohamed Abu El-Diar for 15 days pending investigation, on charges of spreading false news and joining a banned group.
The prosecution also ordered the release of Court of Cassation lawyer Wafaa El-Masry and Dr. Hanan El-Tantawi on bail set at EGP 50,000 each, in Case No. 4502 of 2026 (Supreme State Security), after charging them with spreading false news.
In the early hours of Monday, May 25, Egyptian security forces arrested members of the Defense Committee for Prisoners of Conscience in separate incidents. Those detained included lawyer Mohamed Abu El-Diar, political activist Hanan El-Tantawi, and Court of Cassation lawyer Wafaa El-Masry. The arrests took place at their homes, just days after the committee organized a photo exhibition titled “Prison Is Not Their Place” in solidarity with prisoners of conscience in Egypt and calling for their release.
The arrests also followed hours after the committee issued a statement condemning the detention of political activist Nael Hassan, who had been ordered into 15 days of pretrial detention on Sunday, May 24, 2026, in connection with charges related to his online expression.
Earlier today, the Supreme State Security Prosecution also ordered the pretrial detention of director Omar Salah Marei for 15 days pending investigation in Case No. 3835 of 2026 (Supreme State Security), on charges of spreading false news.
It is noteworthy that Omar appeared today with his head fully shaved after prison authorities at Tenth of Ramadan Prison (6) reportedly forced him to shave his hair completely. This measure may constitute ill-treatment and punitive action, despite the fact that he remains in pretrial detention and has not been convicted by any judicial authority.
Kajsa Ollongren, the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, has joined a call by Law and Democracy Support Foundation and 17 other human rights organizations urging Egyptian authorities to immediately release director and screenwriter Omar Salah Marei, along with others detained for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
Law and Democracy Support Foundation reiterates its call on the Egyptian authorities to end this systematic targeting of freedom of expression, release all prisoners of conscience, and drop the fabricated charges against them.
