The Egyptian authorities have in recent weeks arbitrarily detained and referred for prosecution at least four critics of the government on charges stemming solely from their legitimate exercise of freedom of expression, as part of their work, in a fresh assault on freedom of expression, eight organizations, including Human Rights Watch, said today. Those prosecuted include two detained journalists and a researcher living in exile.

The authorities have employed incommunicado detention, abusive pretrial detention, and unsubstantiated terrorism-related charges against the critics. The family of one detainee alleged that he was tortured. Harsh repression has stymied freedom of expression and independent media in recent years, despite the government’s claims that it is pursuing reforms.

“Egypt cannot turn a new page without respecting freedom of expression, which is part and parcel of promoting other political and economic rights,” said Bassam Khawaja, deputy Middle East and North Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “Egypt should urgently cease targeting critics and immediately release those unjustly detained.”

Authorities detained Ashraf Omar, a political satire artist, on July 22, 2024. Al-Manassa, an independent news site where Omar publishes cartoons, and his family said that security forces belonging to the Interior Ministry’s National Security Agency (NSA) arrested him during a late-night home raid. Omar’s wife, Nada Moogheeth, said in public statements that CCTV video showed a group of people in civilian clothes and others in police uniforms arriving in two minibuses, raiding the house, and leaving with Omar blindfolded 40 minutes later. They then took him to an undisclosed location where he was held for more than 48 hours. Omar’s wife later declared that NSA officers had tortured him, including by threatening to subject him to electric shocks.

On July 24, security officials brought Omar to the Supreme State Security Prosecutors Office in Cairo, a branch of Egypt’s public prosecution known for its abuses and responsible for keeping thousands of peaceful activists and journalists in pretrial detention for months or years without evidence of wrongdoing. Omar’s lawyer and prominent human rights defender Khaled Ali said that prosecutors ordered Omar detained on charges of “joining a terrorist group,” “misusing social media,” and “spreading false news,” charges that the prosecution frequently uses to lock up actual or perceived critics.

On July 16, security forces raided the home of journalist Khaled Mamdouh in Cairo and arrested him late at night. The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, an independent organization, said members of the security forces searched Mamdouh’s apartment and seized his electronic devices without revealing their identity or presenting a judicial warrant.

Mamdouh’s lawyer, Fatma Serag, said authorities kept Mamdouh in secret detention for five days and then presented him to the prosecutors on July 20, recording the official date of his arrest on that same day. She said in an August 8 news conference that the home raid was “terrifying” and that security forces surrounded Mamdouh’s apartment for six hours and briefly detained his son.

The prosecution has kept Mamdouh in pretrial detention since July 20. His lawyer said prosecutors have not presented any evidence of criminal wrongdoing but charged Mamdouh with belonging to an unnamed “terrorist group” and “spreading false news.”

Serag said Mamdouh is being held in Abu Za’abal prison, where prosecutorial hearings for pretrial detention renewal are conducted through a video conference system. Human Rights Watch documented that this abusive method of renewing pretrial detention – without bringing the detainee before a judge – severely undermines due process. It prevents a judge from assessing the legality and conditions of detention as well as the detainees’ wellbeing, and violates several fair trial guarantees, including the right to legal counsel.

Human Rights Watch spoke to a third journalist, who previously worked with Mamdouh for the Arabic Post, who said he fled the country in the last week of July for fear of arrest after Omar and Mamdouh were detained. He said security forces were looking for him and raided his home after he fled. The journalist had already been arbitrarily detained in 2018 for over two years in a case stemming from his legitimate work as a journalist.

In early July, the prosecution referred Abdelrahman Mahmoud Abdou, a researcher and journalist also known as Abdelrahman Ayyash, to trial. The indictment states that Ayyash was charged, alongside four others, with “leadership of a terrorist group,” while 41 others were charged with joining or financing the unnamed group.

Ayyash, who is living in exile, said human rights lawyers obtained the case file and notified him, but that he has not received formal notice of the charges. The indictment describes Ayyash as a “supervisor” at the Arabic Post even though he said he quit his job there in 2018. Ayyash was employed as a senior research assistant at Human Rights Watch between August 2018 and September 2021. After leaving Human Rights Watch, Ayyash joined the Washington, D.C.-based Freedom Initiative, and he currently serves as an independent consultant for the Middle East Democracy Center. Ayyash has also contributed to publications at several organizations, including the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Century International, and the Arab Reform Initiative. 

Security forces previously raided Ayyash’s family home in July 2022 and detained his father, after questioning him about Ayyash’s human rights and political activism. His father was referred to trial on unsubstantiated charges of possessing printed materials and information undermining the constitution, and was detained for several months. A court acquitted him in November 2022.

On July 16, the Interior Ministry stated it had detained a man it claimed was responsible for displaying criticism of President al-Sisi on a billboard screen in Giza, which went viral on social media. Such criticism is protected peaceful free expression that should not be penalized, the organizations said.

Under the government of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, freedom of expression, including media freedom, has faced relentless attacks for years. Egypt regularly ranks among the countries with the most journalists in detention, with the International Committee to Protect Journalists finding it accounted for more than 13 percent of the world’s detained journalists as of 2023. Mainstream media are severely curtailed in Egypt, and the few remaining media websites face government restrictions and harassment. Egyptian authorities have previously abused terrorism laws to prosecute journalists, activists, and critics.

Egypt is a state party to international instruments guaranteeing the right to freedom of expression, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (article 19) and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (article 9).

“Attacks on freedom of expression in Egypt must end,” said Said Benarbia, Middle East and North Africa director at the International Commission of Jurists. “Instead of muzzling independent, critical, and dissenting voices through arbitrary detentions and prosecutions, the Egyptian authorities must ensure that all individuals are able to participate in public debate and openly express their opinions and criticism of State institutions and officials without intimidation or reprisal.”

Signatories:

Human Rights Watch
International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)
DAWN
EuroMed Rights
International Commission of Jurists
FairSquare
IFEX
Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC)

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

In Ghana’s vibrant media landscape, Nana Aba Anamoah stands out not just for her on-screen presence but for her relentless commitment to social justice and advocacy.

As General Manager of GHOne TV, Nana has emerged as a leading advocate for gender equality, health reform, and youth empowerment, transforming from a celebrated media personality into a dynamic agent of change and an influential voice in Ghana.

Ms. Anamoah’s journey into journalism began with a childhood fascination with television, fueled by her father’s love for news and shows like Larry King Live.

“My father introduced me to Larry King Live at a very young age,” she recalled. “By the time I was nine, I knew I wanted to be on TV – not just to be seen, but to make a difference.”

This desire to make a difference has driven Nana to tackle some of Ghana’s most pressing social issues. Among her most impactful efforts is her advocacy for kidney disease patients, many of whom struggle to afford life-saving dialysis treatments.

“I received a letter from a group of patients who couldn’t afford the treatment, and I knew I had to do something,” said Nana. She mobilized resources and raised awareness, not just to fund treatments but also to highlight the systemic discrimination these patients face in the workplace.

“It’s not just about raising money – it’s about changing the policies that allow this kind of injustice to continue.”

Her commitment to health advocacy extends to her fight against the misuse of drugs that have wreaked havoc in Ghanaian communities. Through her reporting, Nana and her team exposed the widespread abuse, particularly among young people. This led to the establishment of Ghana’s first national addiction center.

“Seeing the extent of the problem was shocking,” she said. “But it was even more rewarding to see real action being taken to address it.”

Nana also played a key role in the successful separation of conjoined twins in Ghana, using her platform to raise awareness and mobilize resources for the life-saving surgery.

Gender equality is another area where Ms. Anamoah has made significant strides. At GHOne TV, she has prioritized the promotion of women into leadership positions, ensuring that they are well-represented in the newsroom and beyond.

“When I became General Manager, one of my main goals was to ensure that women had more opportunities to lead,” said Nana. “These women have proven that they are not just capable – they excel.”

Her commitment to inclusion also extends to individuals with disabilities. Ms. Anamoah has been instrumental in bringing persons with disabilities into the newsroom, believing that their voices are crucial for balanced reporting.

“We often tell the stories of people with disabilities without truly understanding their experiences,” she noted. “By having them in the newsroom, we ensure their stories are told with authenticity and empathy.”

Nana’s passion for empowering women led her to create the “Women of Valor” platform, which brings together women from across Africa annually to share their experiences and find solutions to the challenges they face.

Nana’s passion for empowering women inspired her to create the ‘Women of Valor’ platform, which brings together women from across Africa each year to share their experiences and find solutions to the challenges they face.

“One of the most powerful moments was when a young woman shared her story of surviving sexual abuse by her father,” said Nana. “Her courage inspired others to come forward, and it reminded me of the strength and resilience of women everywhere.”

With millions of followers across various social media platforms, Nana Aba Anamoah has leveraged her influence to inspire change and amplify the voices of the marginalized. Her tireless work in advocating for health, combating drug abuse, and promoting women’s leadership continues to drive progress in Ghana.

“I’ve always wanted to do something that matters, something that will outlive me,” she noted. “I believe that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Nana expressed hope that world leaders meeting in New York this September for the Summit of the Future will prioritize the issue of gender inequality in their discussions.

“If we truly want a better future, we have to start by making sure everyone has a seat at the table – especially women.”

Ms. Anamoah was speaking during an interview for the Sustainable Africa Series, a production by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, focusing on how African celebrities and personalities utilize their platforms to uplift humanity and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

Busha (www.Busha.com) leads the way as Nigeria’s pioneering SEC-licensed virtual asset service provider under the SEC’s Accelerated Regulatory Incubation Program. They have been granted one of the first provisional licenses by the Nigerian Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to operate as a regulated Virtual Asset Service Provider. This milestone is a significant step forward for both Busha and the broader Nigerian crypto community. 

From its inception over five years ago, Busha has prioritized security, transparency, and regulatory compliance, well ahead of any compulsory requirements. According to a statement from the CEO, “Our team has been unwavering in our commitment to fostering a safe, secure, and transparent environment for all users of digital assets in Nigeria. This provisional license from the SEC is a testament to the rigorous standards we have upheld since day one.” 

Millions of Nigerian crypto enthusiasts and users deserve a trustworthy, secure, and regulated environment for managing and trading digital assets. This license is not just a recognition of Busha’s efforts, but also a long-awaited move to sanitize and strengthen the cryptocurrency space in Nigeria. By aligning with global regulatory expectations, this development is poised to benefit the Nigerian economy, bringing much-needed legitimacy and oversight to the sector. 

Busha is committed to continuing its role as a responsible and positive operator in Nigeria’s capital markets. With its continued mission to provide users with a secure platform for their digital asset needs while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance and operational excellence. 

Thanks to the leadership at the Nigerian SEC for their forward-thinking and innovative approach to the evolving digital asset landscape. 

Busha promises to remain committed to building a more secure and compliant digital asset ecosystem in Nigeria and across Africa, ensuring that Nigerians and other Africans can trade with confidence and peace of mind. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Busha.

About Busha
Busha is a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform in Nigeria, offering a secure and user-friendly environment for trading and managing digital assets. Founded with the mission to simplify cryptocurrency for everyone, Busha continues to be a trusted partner for millions of users in Africa. 

Download the Busha app on the Apple or Google play store – https://apo-opa.co/3Mx8LPD  

For inquiries, please contact: support@busha.co 

The Eritrean community in Wiesbaden and its environs, Germany, celebrated the Silver Jubilee anniversary of its establishment on 24 August.

At the celebratory event, which was attended by Mr. Kibreab Tekeste, Eritrea’s Consul General in Frankfurt, Mr. Simon Yakob, chairman of the Eritrean community, provided an extensive briefing on the objectives of establishing the community and its journey over the past 25 years.

The occasion featured a photo exhibition, as well as cultural and artistic programs.

Mr. Kibreab Tekeste, highlighting the significant contribution of Eritrean communities in various countries in upholding national culture, values, and identity, and in passing them on to the younger generation, called on every citizen to join the community and play their part in national affairs.

Mr. Yohannes Russom, chairman of the Eritrean communities in Germany, and Ms. Leul Tewolde, head of the National Union of Eritrean Women branch, delivered messages of solidarity.

The event was also attended by foreign nationals residing in Wiesbaden, and certificates were handed out to students who completed their secondary school education and those who took mother language training.

According to document, there are about 32 Eritrean communities in various cities across Germany.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.