What is Egypt's Case 621?

Egypt has recently witnessed a string of arrests for young bloggers, activists and media figures. These were all reportedly part of an ongoing investigation by the country's Supreme State Security apparatus (Amn al-Dawla al-Olya) under the name of "case 621 for the year 2018".

It is important to bear in mind that this is still in the investigations phase - so it has not been referred to trial in court thus far.

While it is unclear what triggered these investigations, we know that they are being carried out by the Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution, and not the General-Prosecutor's office. The State Security is a high-profile apparatus that mainly deals with issues of national security.

According to mainstream Egyptian media, case 621 looks into "activities of [Muslim] Brotherhood elements to thwart the presidential election, and incite public opinion"* - a description probably borrowed by local judicial reporters from their sources.

It is interesting to note that while this is how case 621 is often referred to in Egyptian media, none of those arrested so far were actually members of the Muslim Brotherhood.

The particular pertinence of the recent presidential election (that was held in March 2018) is also not established in any of the local media reports.

In addition, the connections that those arrested have with one another is also unclear, as are the vague accusations that they face.

However, the fact that many of those arrested were detained for 15 days is quite significant, because it indicates the authorities' view on the gravity and seriousness of their alleged involvement in the case.

Some local rights organizations believe this case to be a tool to arrest dissident voices in an increasingly limited media sphere in Egypt. 

Egypt's Supreme State Security Prosecution has recently investigated several high-profile security cases, including terrorist activity in the Sinai Peninsula. However, the apparatus also looked into a case where young people were arrested for holding up rainbow flags during a concert for the Lebanese band Mashrou' Leila (whose lead singer is openly gay) held in Cairo in September 2017.

So far, this has been the timeline for case 621 as reported in local media:

Muhammad Ibrahim (L) and Sherif al-Rouby (R)

On 17 April, Supreme State Security Prosecution headed by Judge Khalid Diaa al-Din ordered a 15-day detention (pending investigations) of Sherif al-Rouby, member of the April 6 Youth Movement, and blogger and freelance journalist Muhammad Ibrahim (aka Muhammad Oxygen). They were accused of spreading false news and joining a group formed in violation of laws and the constitution. The prosecution renewed their 15-day detentions on 29 April, again on 13 May, and again on 12 June.

Radwan and Al-Rouby were arrested on 6 and 8 April respectively, but their location remained unknown until 17 April.

Shadi Abu Zeid

On 8 May, Supreme State Security Prosecution issued a similar 15-day detention order for young activist and blogger (and former TV reporter for CBC's Abla Fahita satire show) Shadi Abu Zeid. He was also accused of spreading false news and joining a group formed in violation of laws and the constitution. The prosecution renewed Abu Zeid’s detention for a further 15 days on 23 May, and again on 4 June.

Abu Zeid was arrested from his house on 6 May, and his location was unknown to his family until 8 May.

Shadi al-Ghazali Harb

On 15 May, Supreme State Security Prosecution issued a 15-day detention for prominent Egyptian activist and ex-leading member of the Constitution Party Shadi al-Ghazali Harb for the same accusations. His 15-day detention was renewed on 29 May and on 11 June.

Amal Fathi

Meanwhile, Amal Fathi, a member of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF), was ordered a 15-day detention pending investigations on 12 May in case 7991 for the year 2018 by a local Cairo prosecution office (al-Maadi prosecution). Fathi was accused of spreading clips on social media defaming state institutions and inciting illegal acts. She was reportedly arrested with her husband Muhammad Lotfy (co-founder of ECRF) on 11 May, but he wasn't detained. 

Al-Maadi prosecution renewed the detention of Fathi for a further 15 days on 24 May, and again on 7 June. However, al-Maadi prosecution released Fathi on 19 June on bail.

However, in addition, the Supreme State Security Prosecution has also ordered Fathi's arrest for the investigations ongoing for case 621.


Other recent arrests (unrelated to case 621): 

Azza al-Hinnawi

On 22 May, Judge Ferial Qutb**, head of the Administrative Prosecution, referred TV Anchor Azza al-Hinnawi to a disciplinary court for spreading false news. This came after Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation referred al-Hinnawi to the Administrative Prosecution after she gave a 30-minute phone interview to al-Sharq TV (widely perceived to be pro-Muslim Brotherhood) in which she spoke about government control over the media in Egypt.

Haitham Muhammadein

On 19 May, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered a 15-day detention for Haitham Muhammadein, labour lawyer and prominent political activist known for his membership of the Revolutionary Socialists, pending investigations in case 718 for the year 2018. He was reportedly accused of involvement in recent protests against price hikes of Cairo's underground metro service.

Wael Abbas

On 23 May, prominent blogger and activist Wael Abbas was arrested by Egyptian authorities. On 24 May, the Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered his detention for 15-days pending investigations for case 441 for the year 2018. He also faces accusations of joining a group formed in violation of the constitution and spreading false news.

* Unofficial translation for:
"تحركات العناصر الإثارية الإخوانية لإفشال الانتخابات الرئاسية وتأليب الرأي العام"

** Female judge (I think this is the first time I have read about a female judge in action in the news. Qutb was officially appointed as head of the Administrative Prosecution in September 2017)