The Cairo Criminal Court, sitting at the Badr Courts Complex, today, Tuesday, October 20, 2026, acquitted Sayed Ali Fahim, widely known as “Sayed Moshagheb,” the former leader of the Zamalek fan group “White Knights,” along with five of his associates, in the case widely known in the media as the “Celebration Case,” which arose from his release from detention.
The case is registered under No. 7304 of 2026 (Bulaq al-Dakrour Felonies), No. 3562 of 2026 (South Giza Overall Docket), and No. 4375 of 2026 (Supreme State Security Prosecution Registry). Prosecutors had referred the six defendants to trial on charges of unlawful assembly, obstructing traffic, and possessing and carrying fireworks and explosive materials without a permit. Moshagheb was additionally charged with organizing a gathering of more than five people with the aim of obstructing the enforcement of laws and preventing public authorities from carrying out their duties.
The incident dates back to a gathering of a number of people in front of Moshagheb’s home in the Bulaq al-Dakrour area of Giza to celebrate his release. Security forces arrested six of those present, including Moshagheb, a few hours after he was freed. The court rejected his appeal against his pretrial detention order and renewed his detention, along with that of his co-defendants, for 45 days pending investigation.
Moshagheb had been released after spending nearly 11 years in custody, when the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered his release in Case No. 910 of 2021, in which he was accused of joining a group established in violation of the law and spreading false news. His detention stemmed from the 2015 Air Defense Stadium incident, in which 22 Zamalek fans were killed. In September 2017, the Cairo Criminal Court sentenced him to seven years in prison. He was also a defendant in the “White Knights organization” case, No. 94 of 2017, relating to the burning of Cairo Stadium, the conference hall, and Al-Hadaf Stadium. In addition, the Military Criminal Court acquitted him of the charge of storming the National Security headquarters in 2013, after the Giza (Agouza) Misdemeanor Court had acquitted him in 2015 of assaulting the Zamalek club chairman.
