Shimaa Samy
After writing criticism of the government’s detention of political prisoners on news website Darb, Samy was abducted in Alexandria by security forces on May 20, 2020 and held incommunicado… More
Sameh Haneen
On May 16, 2020, state security officers arrested Haneen, a freelance journalist and documentary producer, on charges of spreading false news, threatening national security, and joining a terrorist organization… More
Filmmaker, CUNY Student Detained Unjustly in Egypt
"How many more artists must face threats to their lives for merely expressing themselves?" More
Writers, Actors, Filmmakers Call for Release of Egyptian Film Editor
Over 200 of the world’s most prominent artists, along with nearly two dozen leading human rights groups and film organizations, are calling for the immediate release of Egyptian film… More
Ahmed Naji | Status: In Exile | Egypt
Ahmed Naji was temporarily released from prison in Egypt on December 22, 2016, after his two-year prison sentence for “violating public modesty” was suspended by an appeals court on… More
Galal El-Behairy | Status: Imprisoned | Egypt
Galal El-Behairy is an Egyptian poet, lyricist, and activist who has been in detention in Tora Prison in Cairo since March 2018. More
Egyptian Web Designer Mustafa Gamal Ordered Freed
PEN America was heartened to learn today that Egyptian designer Mustafa Gamal has been ordered released from pre-trial detention in Egypt. More
PEN America-Led Coalition Demands Investigation Into Death of Egyptian Filmmaker
“The Egyptian government has again and again shown disregard for the fundamental right to freedom of expression.” More
Open Letter to the Egyptian Ministry of Justice
We, the undersigned, call for an open and transparent investigation into the jailing and death of Shady Habash, a 24-year-old filmmaker who died in custody. More
Galal El-Behairy, Imprisoned in Egypt
Galal El-Behairy is an Egyptian poet and songwriter. He was arrested and sentenced to prison for his criticism of the government expressed in his lyrics. More