Tell Egypt taking a photo is not a crime
"It was like a Hollywood movie," said Shawkan. Except the bullets were real. The teargas was real. The tanks descending on protests across Egypt were real. And the 1,000 people who were killed were all too real.
Mahmoud Abu Zeid, better known as Shawkan, a photojournalist in Egypt, was covering a sit-in in Cairo in August 2013, when security forces swept in and turned his life upside down.
It was the bloodiest incident in Egypt's recent history. Shawkan was taking photos of the mayhem around him, when officers arrested him. They tied his hands with plastic cables until they bled. The officers then punched him and whipped him with a belt. He's been in jail for 3 years and if convicted could face execution.
Tell the Egyptian authorities that journalism is not a crime.
Join our call on the Egyptian authorities to drop all charges against Shawkan immediately and unconditionally.
Dear Counsellor Nabil Sadek (Egypt),
I am very concerned for Mahmoud Abu Zeid, better known as Shawkan. He is a photojournalist who was covering a sit-in in Cairo on 14 August 2013 when security forces swept in.
I call on you to:
- drop all charges against Mahmoud Abu Zeid and release him immediately and unconditionally.
- while detained, provide him with any medical treatment he may require.
- immediately release any other journalists detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.
[Your comments here]
Yours sincerely,
[Your name]
Update #17 years ago
19/11/16: Today, Shawkan's trial was adjourned to 10 December to examine further evidence. Please keep taking action so that this International Human Rights Day - 10 December - sees Shawkan released!
