In a pressing call for justice, over 30,000 individuals have signed petitions advocating for the immediate release of Oqba Hashad, a 27-year-old Egyptian student, as reported by Amnesty International. Oqba’s imprisonment, lasting nearly six years, is solely attributed to his brother’s activism in human rights.
Oqba Hashad was arrested on May 20, 2019, during a National Security Agency raid at his University of Sadat City dormitory. His harrowing journey included enforced disappearances, torture involving beatings and electric shocks, and a shocking lack of essential healthcare.
Despite a judicial order from February 20, 2024, that mandated Oqba’s release after surpassing the two-year detention limit, authorities continue to obstruct his freedom by imposing new terrorism-related charges. Souleimene Benghazi, Amnesty’s Egypt campaigner, condemned these actions as a “blatant miscarriage of justice,” highlighting the bureaucratic manipulation of the legal system by the authorities.
Under Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, individuals are entitled to liberty and prompt judicial review, underscoring the gravity of Oqba’s wrongful detention. Adding to his suffering, Oqba, who lost his right leg as a child, has faced significant delays in receiving a replacement prosthetic, leading to physical discomfort and diminished mobility since his original device broke in August 2022.
Amnesty International contends that Oqba is being held solely due to his brother Amr Hashad’s human rights activism. Amr, now in exile in Türkiye after being imprisoned from 2014 to 2019 on politically charged allegations, represents the systemic repression critics face in Egypt. The organization has launched the “Write for Rights” campaign in an effort to secure Oqba’s liberation.
Oqba Hashad’s situation reflects a broader, concerning trend of repression in Egypt, where hundreds of dissenters have been arrested. Authorities routinely employ enforced disappearances and prolonged detentions. A coalition of 28 rights organisations recently urged the Egyptian government to halt its retaliation against human rights lawyers, emphasising the urgent need for change in the current landscape of oppression.
Over 30,000 petitions have been signed demanding the release of Oqba Hashad, a 27-year-old student imprisoned for nearly six years due to his brother’s human rights activism. Despite a judicial order for his release, authorities have continued to impose new charges. His case exemplifies systematic repression in Egypt, where hundreds of critics face similar fates. Amnesty International has launched a campaign for his freedom, underscoring the urgent need for human rights advocacy in the region.
The plight of Oqba Hashad encapsulates the harrowing experiences faced by many individuals in Egypt due to the suppression of dissent. With over 30,000 petitions calling for his release, it is evident that the international community is rallying behind Oqba’s cause, urging accountability and adherence to human rights. His suffering not only highlights the individual injustices within the legal system but also reflects a much larger pattern of state-sponsored repression affecting numerous human rights activists in the country.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
