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)

Egyptian journalists now have to "revere" top religious leaders

Egypt's Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) issued a decision on 21 May ordering all press, radio and TV to add religious forms of address and full titles when mentioning the country's top Islamic and Christian leaders.

This means saying/writing His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, and His Eminence Grand Imam of al-Azhar Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayyib.

Head of the SCMR Makram Muhammad Ahmed said that this decision was taken in order "to return to the original traditions" of the press. He added that he had noticed that media reports were recently referring to al-Tayyib and Tawadros II "normally" without any recognition for their status.

Needless to say, this caused a flurry of comments from journalists in Egypt on social media platforms, many of them ridiculing the decision. One asked, shall we add The Cinderella before the name of Soad Hosni now too (a late classic Egyptian movie star popularly known by this title)? Many wondered who would be next: the president? the prime minister? Some naturally argued that the right place for such forms of address was mosques and churches - and that journalists carried an obligation to report impartially.

It is amusing to imagine how a journalist would write a report according to this rule, if one of these figures gets involved in a negative series of actions or events.

Interestingly, though, one would often see Egyptian media reports mentioning al-Tayyib with only a short title such as "the mufti" or "Sheikh", and referring to him thereafter in the report as "al-Tayyib". And nothing would be a cause for concern. However, I do not think this ever applied to Tawadors II, who is always referred to as "the pope" - perhaps due to sectarian sensitivities in the country? Muslim journalists' lack of knowledge on what to do with his title? Adopting this style from those before and from Western media?

Anyway, we need to watch out now for future reports mentioning al-Tayyib or Tawadros II, and see to what degree this decision will be followed.

The man behind congratulating El-Sisi across 8 Egyptian front pages

At least eight Egyptian daily newspapers (including two state-owned) featured a half-page congratulatory note on 4 June for Egypt's new president Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi.

The note read:

"Congratulations to Egypt

Under your wise leadership Egypt will add more to its glory for eternity

Hasan Abdullah Ismaik, Managing Director and CEO of Arabtec Holding, sincerely congratulates President Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi for the success of the democratic process and his election as president of the Arab Republic of Egypt"

The note occupied the bottom-half of the spread-sheet front pages of state-owned Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhouriya. It also appeared in privately-owned papers of Al-Sherouk, Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Watan, Al-Tahrir, Al-Youm Al-Sabea, in addition to the liberal Al-Wafd Party's Al-Wafd. 

It carried the logo of UAE-based Arabtec Holding, whose managing director and CEO is Hasan Ismaik, a Jordanian billionaire who recently came to Forbes' attention.

On 9 March, Ismaik's company and Egypt's defense ministry, then headed by El-Sisi, signed an agreement to construct one million housing units across Egypt. 

This is not the only construction project the defense ministry, that has been led by the army's commander-in-chief, signed with Gulf-based companies. 

Egypt Elections Headlines: Before & after voting extension

Egyptian newspapers came out on the eve of 27 May, at the end of the first voting day, with celebratory front pages, praising what they described as a heavy turnout at the polling stations. 

Some highlighted women's participation in the presidential elections, while others claimed a presence for young people. (Whose participation has in fact been dwindling & social media has been rampant with sarcasm on "elderly participation" over the past two days.)

However, the following day's front pages saw an obvious change of tone in most papers when Egypt's Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) announced extending the polling for a third day - due to low turnout! 

(Note: current official approximate figures puts turnout at 37%)

So here are snap-shots of yesterday's and today's main state-owned and privately-owned Egyptian daily newspapers. I also wrote an English translation of the headlines. 

- Click on the photos for a larger view.

* * *

Al-Ahram

(State-owned daily) 

27 May 2014 

28 May 2014

27 May:        

Egyptians are making the future 

A popular carnival on the first voting day 

28 May:

Voting extended for 24 hours 

Heavy turnout at polling stations in a festive atmosphere 

* * * 

Al-Akhbar 

(State-owned daily) 

28 May 2014

27 May 2014

 27 May:       

Egypt fascinates the world 

Youth turnout... and women are at the forefront

Muslim Brotherhood fails to ruin the democratic festival 

28 May:

Voting extended to today...  Sisi and Sabahi object

Links & Videos: Online media round-up of Egyptian elections

Two only Egyptian presidential candidates Hamdeen Sabahi (L) and Abd El-Fatah El-Sisi (R)

Here some useful links explaining the Egyptian presidential elections taking place at the moment, in addition to the latest updates.

Second day elections round-up:

 

So Egypt's Presidential Elections Committee (PEC) decided to extend the voting for a third day due to low turn out! No holiday is declared. 

(The Telegraph called it "Egypt elections extended as Sisi's backers embarrassed by low turn-out")


Both Sabahi's and El-Sisi's campaigns have filed complaints against the decision. 

However, PEC has rejected these legal complaints. PEC's secretary Abd El-Aziz Salman told CBC TV channel: "We do not abide by the desires of the candidates. We are following the popular wishes... two representative of a popular delegation came to the committee's headquarters to request more opportunities to vote."

Meanwhile, there are calls on social media asking Sabahi to withdraw from the race, saying the elections are a farce. 

* * *

As participation levels were unexpectedly low, there have been efforts from the Egyptian government & media to urge people to vote. Aswat Masriya has more to say indeed in this feature titled "Vote or else, Egyptian media warns public". 

Egypt's PM Ibrahim Mahlab also announced a fine of EGP 500 for those who do not vote. (Same news about a fine were announced in previous elections). 

Anyway, here are some other news on the second elections day in Egypt...

Journalists on the street: 

- BBC crew briefly detained when interviewing Rabaa widow (DNE) 

- Journalists detained, barred from polling stations: Syndicate (Ahram Online)

Monitoring the elections: 

- Ahram Online interviews chief observer of the European Union's Election Observation Mission (EOM) in Egypt. 

How did the second day unfold? 

- Ahram Online's live updates

- At least 30 arrests during presidential elections (DNE)

Egypt-specials: 

- Reports on social media saying that shopping complex City Stars in northern Cairo shut down early to "call on people to vote". This video from local news publication El-Badil features an announcement broadcast in City Stars, telling customers it will close at 4 p.m. CLT in order to help staff vote.

Commentary: 

- Robert Fisk writes in The Independent: "Egypt elections: The coronation of the emperor".


Earlier today: 

The government has declared Tuesday an official holiday in the public sector to facilitate the polling process & extended the voting for an extra hour. 

Here are also some links for what has been happening in the early morning: 

- Sabahi campaign urges Egypt youth to back him on final polling day (Ahram Online)

- Dostour (Constitution) Party Facebook pages launches an event called "Tuesday is for Hamdeen" to urge voters to cast their votes for the only candidate against El-Sisi Today. 

Trending hashtags: 

انسحب_يا_حمدين# (Withdraw, Hamdeen)

كملوا_المسرحية# (Continue the show)

الاربع_بتاع_حمدين# (Wednesday is for Hamdeen) 

Victims: Journalists vs the Public

We were always taught in university that journalism is the "fourth estate", a watchdog on those in power, a force that challenges them and keeps them alert for they know someone will hold them accountable. But, more importantly, this "fourth estate" is on a noble mission to give voice to the voiceless, bring attention to the unnoticed, and shed light upon what's been cast in the dark. Our professors told us time and time again that: journalism should reveal wrongdoing, raise awareness and demand justice - it is an active (and much needed) player in democracy.

And so journalism suddenly became the most intriguing thing that I ever came across, especially that this happened after the 2011 revolution when the whole country was bubbling with enthusiasm.

I was quite lucky to have worked with colleagues in on-campus newspapers who were (and some still are) vehement believers in such values of journalism. They were extremely enthusiastic about the potential impact news can make. We reported night and day on stories, interviewed tens of people, discussed scenarios and plans for hours - thinking this was our next journalistic breakthrough, that we'd be our university's Woodward and Bernstein.

It was all about "let's do some real journalism" - and to me, this "real" journalism was always about the story. We wanted to find the important stories, the good stories, work properly on them and get them published.

However, I started to feel recently that it isn't actually always about the story. A lot of the time it's more about the journalist. And this issue can have a lot of elements to look at and factors to consider. But what really drew my attention recently is how reporters are treated with superiority when it comes to situations where they are jailed, injured or killed.

The argument is that journalists are out risking their security to inform everyone else of the truth. And if you arrest or kill a journalist - you're silencing a channel of vital communication. And so the significance of the crackdown is doubled - you do not only trespass over a human being's freedom, but you deny the public the important service this journalist is giving them.