Press Release
Young blogger and journalist Mohamed Ibrahim, known as “Oxygen,” has now completed five years in prison since his arrest in September 2019. He remained in custody facing multiple charges until a final four-year prison sentence was issued against him in December 2021.
Ongoing struggles:
Oxygen’s ordeal began in April 2018 when he was first arrested on charges of joining a terrorist group and spreading false news. Despite several court orders for his release, he was continuously charged in new cases, leading to years in pre-trial detention until his conviction in late 2021.
In prison, Oxygen has endured harsh conditions. Reports reveal that in August 2021, he attempted suicide in the high-security Tora prison due to the psychological and physical abuses he suffered, and his life was saved at the last moment. His time in detention has also included prolonged bans on visits, including being denied the chance to see his mother for years. She passed away in February 2022 while he was still in prison. Despite public and media appeals to allow him to bid farewell to her, Oxygen refused to leave his cell due to the despair he felt from his continued imprisonment.
Continued calls for his release:
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) has issued multiple statements condemning what it describes as “targeted harassment” against Oxygen, highlighting that his case exemplifies the violations faced by bloggers and journalists in Egypt due to their opinions.
CFJ has called for his immediate release and stressed the need to end all arbitrary measures taken against him since his first arrest. CFJ expressed concern over Oxygen’s deteriorating mental and physical condition, especially after his suicide attempt, and called for improvements in his detention conditions and the provision of necessary psychological and medical care.
The committee also urged relevant authorities, including judicial and executive bodies, to respect the rule of law and human rights, emphasizing that the continued practices of arbitrary detention and “case recycling” are further tarnishing Egypt’s international image regarding human rights.
