Egypt: UPDATE Human rights defender Mosaad Abu Fagr kept in detention despite new court order to release him

The Administrative Court of Egypt has suspended the decision of the Minister of the Interior to detain Mossaad Soliman Hassan , known as Mosaad Abu Fagr. On 16 June 2009, the court issued an explicit immediate release order, ruling that the ministry should bear all the expenses of the litigation and referred the case to the board of state commissioners. However, Mosaad Abu Fagr is still in detention.

Further Information

Mosaad Abu Fagr has been detained in Borg Al Arab prison in the Alexandria desert since his arrest on 26 December 2007. He is a human rights defender, blogger and writer working on behalf of the rights of the Sinai community in Egypt.

On 16 February 2008, the Lower Court ordered the release of Mosaad Abu Fagr but the Public Prosecutor's Office (PPO) appealed against the order. On 12 May 2008, the 14th penal section of the Abbassya Court rejected the appeal of the PPO.

Despite these orders, Mosaad Abu Fagr has been detained for almost one year and the Egyptian authorities have given no indication of his release.

Refer to: Original Front Line appeal on behalf of Mossaad Soliman Hassan