The “Committee for Justice” (CFJ) has denounced the decision by Egyptian authorities to refer the prominent content creator Ahmed Abu Zeid to a criminal trial. His arrest occurred on January 7, where he was accused of joining a terrorist organization and possessing and trading foreign currency without providing a source or notifying authorities.
Security forces detained Abu Zeid and forcibly disappeared him in a National Security Agency facility for three days before he was presented to the Supreme State Security Prosecution. The prosecution ordered his detention for 15 days based on National Security investigations.
In his defense, Abu Zeid stated that he had legitimately earned the foreign currency through revenues from his social media channels, particularly his educational YouTube channel. He emphasized that he did not engage in currency trading and that all his earnings were transferred through his official bank account.
Despite this, Abu Zeid’s appeal against his 15-day detention was rejected, and he was referred to a criminal trial on charges of foreign currency trading.
CFJ opposes these arbitrary measures against Abu Zeid and calls for his immediate release and an end to his targeting with fabricated and illogical charges. The committee also demands investigations into the circumstances of his three-day forced disappearance before he was presented to investigative authorities, a clear violation of Egyptian law, the constitution, and international agreements to which Egypt is a party. Furthermore, CFJ calls for his trial to be conducted in accordance with internationally recognized standards of fair justice.