بيانات صحفية
After 100 days in remand detention of journalist Taufik Ghanem: Human rights organizations demand his immediate release and hold the Ministry of Interior responsible for his safety and health
The undersigned human rights organizations condemn the continued detention of journalist Taufiq Ghanem, coinciding with his completion of 100 days in pretrial detention since his arrest in May 2021 and his interrogation before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, which decided to imprison him for 15 days. Human rights organizations are calling for Ghanem’s immediate and unconditional release and to stop punishing him for his media and journalistic work over the past years, throughout which he was held without real charges.
The signatory organizations also hold the Ministry of Interior fully responsible for the health and safety of journalist Taufiq Ghanem, 66, who suffers enlargement of his prostate. Before his arrest, he was subject to health follow-up to determine the necessary treatment, but his arrest prevented him from receiving appropriate health care, in addition to suffering from health problems in his bones and undergoing earlier surgeries, and finally suffering from diabetes, which requires special health and medical care.
Taufiq Ghanem served as director of the regional office of the Anatolia News Agency in Cairo until his retirement in 2015. He also headed a number of media organizations, most notably Media International, which ran the Islam-On website for ten years.
Security forces had arrested Taufiq Ghanem, on May 21, 2021, from his home in the Sixth of October area in Giza Governorate. After his arrest, the family’s lawyer submitted a report to the Public Prosecutor requesting an investigation into the incident of illegal detention and enabling Ghanem to contact his family and his lawyer. The report was registered with No. 21823 dated 25/5/2021, petitions to the Technical Office of the Public Prosecutor. After five days of disappearance, Ghanem was brought before the State Security Prosecution, on May 26, 2021, in connection with Case No. 238 of 2021, and was accused of joining a terrorist group, without specifying the nature of this group or his role in it, and he was not confronted with any specific facts nor any acts of violence or their incitement.
During his interrogation, he was questioned about his work, his opinions and the history of his journalistic work, especially the period during which he was the director of the Anatolia Agency office in Cairo. He also affirmed his stance against violence in general.
The signatory organizations stress the importance of a prompt release of Taufiq Ghanem for fear of the deterioration of his health, so that he could receive the necessary treatment to complete his recovery. The organizations also stress the need to stop targeting journalists in general, stop arresting them from their homes or while practicing their work, and leaving a safe space for journalists and media professionals to carry out their profession naturally without fear.
Undersigned organizations
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression
El Nadeem Center
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Egyptian Front for Human Rights
Committee for Justice
Arabic Network for Human rights Information
Freedom Initiative
Regional Center for Rights and Freedoms
Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
The signatory organizations also hold the Ministry of Interior fully responsible for the health and safety of journalist Taufiq Ghanem, 66, who suffers enlargement of his prostate. Before his arrest, he was subject to health follow-up to determine the necessary treatment, but his arrest prevented him from receiving appropriate health care, in addition to suffering from health problems in his bones and undergoing earlier surgeries, and finally suffering from diabetes, which requires special health and medical care.
Taufiq Ghanem served as director of the regional office of the Anatolia News Agency in Cairo until his retirement in 2015. He also headed a number of media organizations, most notably Media International, which ran the Islam-On website for ten years.
Security forces had arrested Taufiq Ghanem, on May 21, 2021, from his home in the Sixth of October area in Giza Governorate. After his arrest, the family’s lawyer submitted a report to the Public Prosecutor requesting an investigation into the incident of illegal detention and enabling Ghanem to contact his family and his lawyer. The report was registered with No. 21823 dated 25/5/2021, petitions to the Technical Office of the Public Prosecutor. After five days of disappearance, Ghanem was brought before the State Security Prosecution, on May 26, 2021, in connection with Case No. 238 of 2021, and was accused of joining a terrorist group, without specifying the nature of this group or his role in it, and he was not confronted with any specific facts nor any acts of violence or their incitement.
During his interrogation, he was questioned about his work, his opinions and the history of his journalistic work, especially the period during which he was the director of the Anatolia Agency office in Cairo. He also affirmed his stance against violence in general.
The signatory organizations stress the importance of a prompt release of Taufiq Ghanem for fear of the deterioration of his health, so that he could receive the necessary treatment to complete his recovery. The organizations also stress the need to stop targeting journalists in general, stop arresting them from their homes or while practicing their work, and leaving a safe space for journalists and media professionals to carry out their profession naturally without fear.
Undersigned organizations
Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms
Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression
El Nadeem Center
Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights
Egyptian Front for Human Rights
Committee for Justice
Arabic Network for Human rights Information
Freedom Initiative
Regional Center for Rights and Freedoms
Intersection Association for Rights and Freedoms
Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies
