Urgent Action Outcome: Journalist Released After 29 Months In Jail

On 24 April 2022, the Egyptian authorities released journalist Mohamed Salah who had been arbitrarily detained for 29 months without trial or formal charge solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights.

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

On 24 April 2022, journalist Mohamed Salah, who had been arbitrarily detained since 26 November 2019 without charge or trial solely for the peaceful exercise of his human rights, was released. Even though in July 2020, a court ordered his release in relation to investigations into accusations of “joining a terrorist group” and “spreading false news” in Case No. 488/2019 connected to anti-government protests in March 2019, he remained behind bars pending investigations into similar unfounded terrorism accusations in a new case (Case No. 855/2020).

Supporters around the world signed petitions and sent letters to the Egyptians authorities to call for the immediate and unconditional release of Mohamed Salah.  Following his release,

he sent this message to Amnesty International members and supporters:

“I am writing these lines as a free man after spending two years and five months in prison. Throughout this period, you were supportive of my cause by all possible means, not only me but also others who were imprisoned because of their opinions. I thank you all for the constant support and urgent actions for my freedom. You were a voice for us from inside prison, and I invite you to continue your honorable and honest work for the freedom of every human being, especially prisoners of conscience.”

Amnesty International will continue to campaign for the release of journalists and other unjustly held in Egypt solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.

NAME AND PRONOUN: Mohamed Salah (he/him)

THIS IS THE SEVENTH AND FINAL OUTPUT FOR UA 175/19

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde12/5275/2022/en/