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January 24, 2026 – Egypt –
Ahmed Douma, a prominent Egyptian activist, journalist, poet, and human rights defender, was arbitrarily arrested from his Cairo home on January 20, 2026, in what rights advocates describe as part of a continued pattern of judicial harassment. Douma was taken without a warrant by National Security officers, interrogated for more than 10 hours, and released on bail set at 100,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately €1,800) after being charged with “spreading false information” in connection with an article and video about prison conditions. During the arrest, his electronic devices and personal belongings were confiscated without an inventory, according to human rights monitors. The latest arrest represents Douma’s seventh detention since his release under a presidential pardon in August 2023, reflecting persistent legal pressure on his peaceful activism and journalism on human rights issues.
Douma rose to prominence as a symbol of resistance during the 2011 Egyptian uprising and has been repeatedly targeted over his critical reporting and activism. Before his 2023 pardon — which came after more than a decade in prison following politically charged convictions — he was convicted on charges related to protest and dissent and repeatedly detained. Since his release, Egyptian authorities have summoned him for questioning on multiple occasions, often on vague charges such as “spreading false news,” and imposed travel bans that have prevented him from leaving the country. Rights groups, including Front Line Defenders and PEN International, have condemned the repeated arrests and legal harassment as part of broader efforts to silence dissent and restrict freedom of expression.
In a related development, the Committee for Justice (CFJ) has documented harsh humanitarian conditions inside Egypt’s New Valley Prison — a remote detention facility known for holding political prisoners. A CFJ report dated January 21, 2026, highlighted conditions that it says compromise detainees’ safety and welfare, with the organisation calling for urgent interventions to end violations and improve detention conditions in line with legal and moral obligations. Earlier documentation from CFJ and related coalitions also noted multiple suicide attempts and open-ended hunger strikes by political detainees in the same prison, indicating profound psychological and physical distress among inmates held under severe conditions.
Human rights defenders argue that Douma’s arrest, the ongoing judicial harassment he faces, and the reported prison conditions reflect systemic issues in Egypt’s treatment of activists, journalists, and political detainees. They contend that vague legal provisions — such as those used to charge Douma — and harsh detention environments undermine fundamental liberties, including freedom of expression and fair trial rights. The CFJ and other monitoring groups continue to call for the cessation of harassment against Douma and other defenders, the return of confiscated property, impartial investigations into detention conditions, and adherence to national and international human rights standards.
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