The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented the issuance of a ruling by the New Cairo Misdemeanor Court on 3 June 2026, sentencing writer and political activist Ahmed Douma to one year in prison with hard labor and immediate enforcement in Case No. 4894 of 2026, nearly two months after his detention following his summons for investigation before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on 6 April 2026.
According to information documented by CFJ, the case was registered as a misdemeanor under Articles 80(d) and 102 bis of the Egyptian Penal Code, in connection with accusations related to the broadcasting and publication of news and statements deemed false regarding the internal situation in the country.
The case stems from an article published by Douma on 25 March 2026 entitled “From the Prison Inside the State to the State Inside the Prison,” which was later republished through electronic platforms and his social media accounts. Investigative authorities considered the content to include allegations concerning the practices of state institutions and conditions inside reform and rehabilitation centers.
The charges also included a post published by Douma through his Facebook account on 29 March 2026, in which he addressed the conditions of detainees inside reform and rehabilitation centers. The prosecution considered the post to constitute the publication of false news capable of influencing public opinion.
The Committee for Justice calls for the overturning of the sentence issued against Ahmed Douma, and for ensuring respect for the right to freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed under the Egyptian Constitution and international human rights instruments. CFJ also calls for an end to judicial prosecutions related to the peaceful expression of opinions, and for the release of all individuals detained for the legitimate exercise of their rights to expression and publication.
