Free Mahmoud Hussein, arrested in Egypt for his t-shirt

Good news! Mahmoud released

A huge thank you to everyone that took action – Mahmoud was finally freed on Friday 25 March after a court upheld his release. He has now been reunited with his family. 

This is great news but Mahmoud should never have spent a single day behind bars and we continue to call on Egypt to drop all charges against him. Read the full story

Two years behind bars for a t-shirt

When I got dressed this morning, I didn’t for a minute think that my choice of shirt might result in torture and imprisonment. But that’s what happened two years ago to the Egyptian teenager Mahmoud Hussein.

He could have been released today but the Public Prosecutor has appealed the decision. Another court will consider his case tomorrow – urgently tweet the authorities and tell them to free Mahmoud

Arrested for a t-shirt

The T-Shirt Mahmoud wore that fateful day in January 2014 read ‘A Nation Without Torture’. He also wore a scarf marking the 2011 uprising in the country.

He was arrested on his way home from a protest against military rule and the Muslim Brotherhood, marking the third anniversary of the ‘25 January Revolution’ which toppled President Mubarak.

It had lasted less than five minutes when the police dispersed it with tear gas, as they did many other protests across the country that day, leading to 1,000 people being arrested and at least 60 protesters killed.

Mahmoud was tortured and placed in pre-trial detention, where he has remained ever since. He has never been charged or tried but was forced into signing a confession.

Demand Mahmoud’s release – tweet the authorities now

So close to freedom

That Mahmoud has languished behind bars for more than two years just because of the slogan on his T-shirt shows just how dire the human rights situation in Egypt has become. Many others, like Mahmoud, are imprisoned in Egypt for speaking out or attending protests.

This week has already seen Mahmoud’s hopes rise and fall. Yesterday a court ordered his release on bail. But today, just hours before his potential release, the Public Prosecutor appealed it. Tomorrow another court is expected to look into the appeal and decide whether to release Mahmoud or renew his detention again.

Please, urgently call on the Egyptian authorities to do the right thing and free Mahmoud

Today more than ever we need to put the spotlight on the Egyptian authorities and show the world is watching.

So whatever you’re wearing today, please take action now calling for Mahmoud’s immediate release.

Take action

With freedom so close, it's more important than ever to take action for Mahmoud. Please urgently tweet the authorities and ask them to release him immediately.

#Egypt's @AlsisiOfficial must release Mahmoud, jailed for a t-shirt & hours away from freedom: @titotarek8

Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

.@MfaEgypt Mahmoud tortured for wearing a t-shirt is hours from freedom, release him now! @titotarek8 

Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

Arrested, tortured & forced to sign a confession: @MFAEgypt release Mahmoud Hussein!:

Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');

URGENT: Mahmoud is hours away from freedom. Please @MFAEgypt free him now!

Tweet !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?'http':'https';if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+'://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js';fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document, 'script', 'twitter-wjs');