Press Release
The Egyptian Ministry of Interior and the Prison Authority— for the second time— have rejected the request of human rights defender and translator, Marwa Arafa, who has been held in pretrial detention since April 20, 2020, to sit for her postgraduate exams in public law.
– Refusal to Register for Postgraduate Studies and Take Exams:
Arafa’s family had submitted a request to the prosecution to allow her to take this year’s exams; however, the Prison Authority refused, citing a “decision” to stop postgraduate exams for detainees.
Similarly, the university refused to register Arafa, with the family receiving an informal response that “orders” prohibit the registration of detainees in postgraduate programs. To proceed, approval from the prosecution or the Prison Authority would be required, stating that there are no objections to the registration of a detainee in a postgraduate program— a condition that has not been met in Arafa’s case.
– Extended Pretrial Detention:
It is worth noting that the Review Chamber at the Badr Rehabilitation and Correctional Center decided on Sunday, September 8, to renew Arafa’s detention for an additional 45 days, in violation of the pretrial detention law, which limits pretrial detention to two years. Arafa, however, has been in detention for four years.
– Human Rights Rejection of Arbitrary Measures and Calls for Her Release:
The Committee for Justice (CFJ) strongly rejects the arbitrary measures against human rights defender and translator, Marwa Arafa, and calls for their cessation, as they violate Article 31 of the Egyptian Prisons Regulation Law, which states, “The prison administration must encourage prisoners to read and study, facilitate study for those wishing to continue their education, and allow them to sit for their exams at designated examination centers.” CFJ urges the authorities to allow Arafa to register for postgraduate programs at the Faculty of Law and to take her exams.
Additionally, CFJ calls on the Egyptian authorities to release Arafa, as her detention has exceeded the legal pretrial period, and urges the authorities to respect the law and cease using pretrial detention as a weapon against human rights defenders in Egypt.
