PEN International welcomes the release of blogger and activist Maikal Nabil Sanad, on January 24, 2012, days after an amnesty was announced by the authorities. PEN continues to call for the charges against Sanad to be dropped, and urges the immediate and unconditional release of all those who remain detained solely for exercising their right to free expression in accordance with Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a signatory.

Background Information

On January 21, 2012, ahead of the first anniversary of the Egyptian “Jasmine” revolution, the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) announced the release of around 2,000 political detainees who had been convicted by military courts in the last year. Maikal Nabil Sanad is one of them.
 
Maikal Nabil Sanad, aged 26, was arrested on March 28, 2011, and was sentenced to three years by a military tribunal on charges of “insulting the military institution, disseminating false news and disturbing public security” for comments made on his blog in which he accused the new government of anti-democratic practices and of continuing the corruption of former president, Hosni Mubarak. During the trial, Sanad refused to recognize the legitimacy of a military court, and his retrial was twice postponed. On December 15, 2011, another military court heard his case and Sanad’s sentence was reduced to two years in prison.
 
While in prison, Maikal Nabil Sanad came close to death as a result of a hunger strike. He was held in solitary confinement for much of his detention, and was sent for assessment at a psychiatric hospital.

Write A Letter

  • Welcoming the release of blogger and activist Maikel Nabil Sanad, and calling for all the charges against him to be dropped;
  • Urging the immediate and unconditional release of all those who remain detained solely for exercising their right to free expression;
  • Reminding the Egyptian authorities of their obligations to protect freedom of expression as guaranteed by Article 19 of the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights, to which Egypt is a signatory.

Send Your Letter To

Director of Military Judiciary
Major-General Ahmed Abd Allah
Military Judicial Department
Cairo, Egypt
Fax: +202 2 402 4468 / +202 2 411 3452

Military General Attorney
Major-General Medhat Radwan
Military Judicial Department
Cairo, Egypt
+202 2 412 0980 /  +202 2 412 0980   

Minister of Defence
His Excellency Muhammad Tantawi
Ministry of Defence
Cairo, Egypt
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]


Please copy appeals to the diplomatic representative for Egypt in your country if possible.

Please send appeals immediately. Contact PEN if sending appeals after March 31, 2012: ftw [at] pen.org