December 26, 2017
Insist on Justice for Alaa & Mahienour
"The last time I saw Alaa Abd El Fattah was two years ago in court. The last time I saw Mahienour al-Massry was six weeks ago in court. I do not know when I will see them again."
Read moreAlaa Abd El Fattah, an Egyptian blogger and pro-democracy activist, was sentenced to five years in jail. After more than 100 days of hunger striking, he agreed to a partial strike. On November 8, 2017, Egypt's Court of Cassation upheld the five-year verdict against him.
December 20, 2017
Fix Your Own Democracy
Hamilton's essay examines Alaa's ongoing detention and the wider state of democratic protest in Egypt.
Read moreNovember 8, 2017
Egypt court upholds activist's sentence
Egypt's highest appeals court confirmed the five-year prison sentence against Alaa Abdel Fattah, ending the immediate legal road to release through the appeals process.
Read moreNovember 8, 2017
An uncomfortable court: Explaining the adjournment of Alaa Abd El Fattah's appeal
An examination of how the appeal hearing unfolded, the arguments put before the bench, and the political backdrop to the adjournment.
November 8, 2017
Judge withdraws from Alaa Abdel Fattah's appeal case, cites 'embarrassment'
A judge recused from hearing the appeal, citing embarrassment — a rare procedural step that delayed proceedings and drew public attention.
Earlier coverage
Alaa Abd El Fattah speaks from Tora
Alaa wrote a secret letter from his prison cell in Tora, later published via supporters. Coverage also revisited his arrest by the Egyptian junta on October 31, 2011.
Read moreKey context
- Alaa Abd El Fattah was sentenced to five years in jail.
- After 100 days of hunger striking, he agreed to a partial strike.
- Egypt's Court of Cassation upheld the verdict on November 8, 2017.
- A judge withdrew from the appeal case, citing embarrassment.
- Family members joined hunger strikes in solidarity.
Show solidarity
Supporters have used letters, statements, and social media campaigns such as #freealaa to keep attention on the case. Letters from Tora prison and family-led hunger strikes helped bring the detention conditions into public view.
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