Alert / Arrest of the writer and political activist Ibrahim al-Husseini

EuroMed Rights expresses grave concern about the situation of writer and political activist Ibrahim al-Husseini, who is in incommunicado detention after being arrested and initially disappeared on Sunday 9 December.

During his interrogation he was blindfolded for more than 12 hours and denied access to a lawyer. Security forces then took al-Husseini to the Shubra al-Kheima police station before transferring him to a second unknown location. His relatives were not allowed to provide him with food, warm clothes or medicine, even though he suffers from diabetes, high blood pressure and blood clotting.

EuroMed Rights strongly condemns Husseini’s arrest and initial disappearance, both likely to be linked to his social media activity.

EuroMed Rights denounces the intensification of the repression against human rights defenders, activists, journalists, writers, political activists and lawyers over the last months in Egypt. We also denounce Husseini’s conditions of interrogation.

 

Background information

Ibrahim al-Husseini is a writer, publisher, political analyst and strong defender of social and economic rights. He has published several short stories, books and articles in Egypt. He has been a fervent defender of social justice since the 1970s and has already been detained on multiple occasions. Due to his health concerns, over the last years Ibrahim al-Husseini has mostly been active on social media.

He was arrested around 1 am on 9 December in the Shubra al-Kheima district of Cairo after having his home searched. Different electronic devices and books were seized.

According to very recent updates, he will be held in custody for 15 days by order of the Prosecutor.