Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution on Sunday ordered the release of Hossam Bahgat, the executive director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), on a bail of 20,000 Egyptian pounds ($398).
Bahgat faces three charges: participating in the activities of a terrorist group, financing such a group and spreading false news and statements.
He appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in New Cairo’s Fifth Settlement district, where he was questioned about a statement published by the EIPR. The statement called on Egypt’s Public Prosecutor, Mohamed Shawky Ayad, to investigate claims from families of detainees at the 10th of Ramadan 6 Prison regarding deteriorating detention conditions and a hunger strike by some inmates.
The prosecution questioned Bahgat about the source of this information and asked him to name specific families of detainees, considering the statement to be disseminating false news.
Last week, Bahgat was summoned by the Supreme State Security Prosecution for questioning in the case, with no prior details provided about the nature of the charges. After more than three hours of interrogation, the decision to release him on bail was issued.
This case marks the fourth prosecution initiated against members of the EIPR since 2020 for their efforts in defending human rights in Egypt.
In November 2020, three senior EIPR executives were arrested after they met foreign diplomats to discuss the human rights crisis in Egypt.
Karim Ennarah, Mohammed Basheer and Gasser Abdel-Razek were later released following international outrage, including an appeal from Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson.
However, after they were released, a terror court froze their assets and a state-run newspaper threatened EIPR founder, Hossam Bahgat.
Egypt: 38 forcibly disappeared individuals detained; journalist Ahmed Bayoumi’s detention renewed