PLEASE HELP

Musaad Suliman Hassan Hussein, known by his pen name Musaad Abu Fagr, is a novelist and human rights defender in Egypt. He has been in administrative detention, by order of the Minister of Interior, since 15 February 2008, despite obtaining several court orders for his release, most recently in September 2009.

Musaad Abu Fagr was arrested on 26 December 2007 following demonstrations in Sinai against plans by the authorities to demolish thousands of homes near the border with the Gaza Strip. The demonstrations were led by a movement founded by Musaad Abu Fagr and other political activists in Sinai, Wedna Na’ish (We Want to Live). He was accused of “inciting others to protest”, “resisting the authorities” and “assaulting public officers during the exercise of their duties”. During the July and December 2007 demonstrations, several thousand protesters clashed with the security forces.

On 15 February 2008, the Ismailia Appeals Court ordered his release. However, using its powers under the state of emergency that has been in force in Egypt virtually uninterrupted since 1967, the Ministry of Interior issued an administrative order to detain him in spite of the court decision. His lawyers lodged a complaint with the Supreme (Emergency) State Security Court, which ordered that he be released. The Ministry of Interior appealed and, on 12 May 2008, another court confirmed the release order. However, Musaad Abu Fagr was issued with yet another administrative detention order.

As a result of unsanitary conditions, Musaad Abu Fagr developed an abscess on his foot in Borg al-Arab prison, where he was held for a year. The prison authorities provided no medical treatment but a fellow inmate, a doctor, performed the surgery without anaesthetic. He recovered from this ordeal thanks to his family and lawyer, who brought him medication to prevent infection.

Musaad Abu Fagr continues to be held, more than 18 months after he was first ordered to be set free. Amnesty International considers him to be a prisoner of conscience, detained for the peaceful expression of his views.

ACT NOW

1. Write to the ministry of the interior of Egypt:

• urging the immediate and unconditional release of Musaad Abu Fagr, a prisoner of conscience, detained for the peaceful expression of his views.

Ministry of the Interior
H.E. Habib Ibrahim El Adly
25 Al-Sheikh Rihan Street
Bab al-Louk
Cairo
Egypt
Fax: +20 22 796 0682 / 579 2031 / 794 5529
Email: moi@idsc.gov.eg, moi1@idsc.gov.eg,
moi2@idsc.gov.eg, center@iscmi.gov.eg

2. Write a letter of support to Musaad Abu Fagr:

Dear Musaad,
I am writing to express my solidarity with you and your family. I wish you strength and patience in your attempts to recover your freedom and hope you will be free soon. We are writing to the Minister of Interior urging him to stop renewing detention orders against you and calling for your release.

Hisham Mubarak Law Center
1 Souk El-Tewafikiah Street (floor 5)
11111, Cairo, Egypt

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