Egyptian activist Ahmed Douma, a prominent figure in the country’s 2011 uprising against former President Hosni Mubarak, has been granted his freedom after spending a decade behind bars. Douma, who played a significant role in the 2011 uprising, was arrested during the widespread crackdown that followed the military’s ousting of President Mohamed Morsi in 2013.
Upon his release from Badr prison on the outskirts of Cairo, Douma expressed mixed emotions, deferring celebrations until more of his fellow detainees are also released. His initial 25-year prison sentence for clashing with security forces was reduced to 15 years in 2019. In 2021, Douma published a collection of poems titled “Curly,” composed during his solitary confinement. The collection was briefly displayed at the Cairo International Book Fair before being withdrawn due to “security reasons.”
Numerous key activists from the 2011 revolution remain imprisoned, including Alaa Abdel Fattah, a British-Egyptian pro-democracy blogger. The authorities have arrested thousands of pro-democracy campaigners and Islamists following Morsi’s overthrow, drawing global condemnation.
While human rights advocates welcomed Douma’s pardon, concerns about the transparency and selectivity of the process were raised. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has granted pardons to several high-profile figures over the past year. However, the number of arrests has also risen, leaving many still incarcerated.
President Sisi has pardoned 1,000 political prisoners since April of the previous year, but approximately 3,000 more individuals have been detained, according to Egyptian rights monitors. These recent pardons coincide with Egypt’s “national dialogue” initiative aimed at incorporating a decimated opposition into the political process. President Sisi recently received recommendations from this dialogue and pledged to apply them within legal and constitutional frameworks.
With a presidential election scheduled for next year, during which Sisi is anticipated to seek re-election, Egypt’s political landscape remains complex. While the pardons reflect a recognition of growing frustration both domestically and internationally, human rights activists emphasize that the Egyptian government needs to take more decisive action to address the issue of political prisoners in the country.
SOURCE: Ref Image from The New Arab
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