The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) condemns the decision of the Matriya Misdemeanor Court of Appeal in Cairo to uphold the conviction and one-year prison sentence of prominent political opponent Ahmad Tantawi on 27 May 2024. The Matriya Misdemeanor Court in Cairo had originally found him guilty of purported electoral offences, imposing the one-year prison sentence following his denunciation of obstructions to his 2023 presidential candidacy.
البيان باللغة العربية على هذا الرابط
In its 27 May judgment, the Court of Appeal also upheld a five-year ban on Tantawi running for parliamentary elections and a fine of 20,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately 647 USD). Following the ruling, Tantawi, who had been granted bail pending his appeal, was transferred to the Tenth of Ramadan prison in the Sharqia governorate. The Court of Appeal also upheld the convictions and sentences of 21 of Tantawi’s campaign volunteers, who remain in detention.
“The decision to uphold the wrongful convictions and sentences of Ahmad Tantawi, his chief of staff and his campaign volunteers on politically motivated charges is an abject way of getting rid of a preeminent political opponent and his supporters,” said Said Benarbia, ICJ Middle East and North Africa programme director. “The Egyptian authorities must immediately cease the instrumentalization of the judiciary to crack down on government opponents and stop violating their rights to freedom of expression, opinion, association and participation in public affairs.”
Tantawi may request a review of his case before the Egyptian Court of Cassation within 60 days from the Court of Appeal’s decision. Should he decide to do so, he is likely to remain in prison unless the Court of Cassation decides to release him.
On 13 October 2023, following the arrest of some of his family members and supporters, Tantawi abandoned his presidential candidacy, denouncing the Egyptian authorities for stifling legitimate political opposition. On 7 November 2023, the authorities initiated criminal prosecutions against Tantawi, Mohamad al-Dayyar, Tantawi’s chief of staff, and Tantawi’s campaign volunteers on charges of printing and circulating election documents without authorization. On 6 February 2024, the Matriya Misdemeanor Court convicted and sentenced Tantawi, al-Dayyar and his campaign volunteers at the first instance. On 3 June 2024, the Matriya Misdemeanor Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of al-Dayyar, who was immediately detained.
The cases against Tantawi, al-Dayyar and Tantawi’s campaign volunteers are emblematic of the Egyptians authorities’ systematic use of politicized trials to clamp down on any form of political opposition. The ICJ calls on the Egyptian authorities to cease all arbitrary prosecutions of political opponents and allow free and fair elections, in line with international standards.