Restrictions: Police Probation |
Mahmoud Abu Zeid, mostly known as Shawkan, is an Egyptian photojournalist who was arrested on 14 August 2013 while covering the Rabaa al-Adawiya Square protests. His case was part of the mass trial against 700 defendants who were arrested in connection with the August 2013 protests against the Egyptian military’s coup. The case is known as the “Rabaa dispersal” case.
When Shawkan was arrested, police officers did not explain the reason of his arrest nor did they present him with a warrant. He was taken to Cairo Police Station where he was detained and questioned by a prosecutor without the presence of his lawyer. He was thereafter taken to the Abu Zaabal Prison along with other detainees who were arrested in relation to the protest at Rabaa Square. Shawkan remained in detention and was transferred to the notorious Tora prison (also known as “the Scorpion”) in December 2013, where he was detained in a 3 by 4 meter prison cell with 12 other individuals. He narrated the hardships of his conditions in the Tora prison in a letter to mark his 600 days in pre-trial detention, saying
“Tora prison is like a cemetery. It is a place where dreams come to die”
After spending a period of three years in extended pre-trial detention, Shawkan was eventually charged with nine offenses on 26 March 2016, including murder, putting him at risk of being sentenced to death. Other charges include joining a criminal gang, attempted murder, participating in a gathering with the purpose of intimidation and creating terror and exposing people’s life to danger, obstructing public utilities, overthrowing the regime through the use of force and violence, a show of strength and the threat of violence, resisting the authorities, obstructing the implementation of laws, surveillance, and disturbing public space.
Shawkan was only allowed to meet with his lawyers on an arbitrary basis and was not allowed to meet with his lawyers privately. On several occasions, he was denied access to his legal counsel and was not notified of several meetings and hearings that took place.
A major concern was Shawkan’s health as he was diagnosed with Hepatitis C shortly before his arrest. His family and lawyers filed several appeals to request his release on medical grounds. In the meantime, Shawkan was systematically denied any medical care. In a court session that took place on 27 December however, the judge presented a report by the Tora prison doctor stating that Shawkan was in perfect health.
On 3 March 2018, the prosecutor in the “Rabaa dispersal” case requested the death penalty (“death by hanging”) for him. No evidence was presented that could prove Shawkan’s responsibility for any of the offenses he was charged with.
On 8 September 2018, a court sentenced him to five years in prison, which he had already served in pre-trial detention. The hearing was part of a mass trial against alleged protesters at the Rabaa sit-in of August 2013. As part of this case, 75 defendants have been sentenced to death. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the decision resulted from an unfair trial and that, if carried out, it would amount to “a gross and irreversible miscarriage of justice”.
On 4 March 2019, Shawkan was released and returned home after more than 5 years in detention. However, he is only partially free as he must spend 12 hours at the police station every night for a period of 5 years since his release.
According to the Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression, due to his conditional liberty, Shawkan cannot commit to full-time work, something which prompted him to sell his photography equipment online.