Joint Statement: A Presidential Pardon Frees some WHRDs, while Others are Still Detained or Not Included
On 23 September 2015, a Presidential Decree was issued, No. 386 forthe year 2015, for the complete pardon of 100 detainees for the remainder oftheir imprisonment verdict and subsequent monitoring, including women humanrights defenders (WHRDs) in the case known as the Ittihadia Presidential PalaceCase, and the subsequent monitoring of 2 years, namely: Ms. Yara Sallam, Ms. SanaaSeif, Ms. Samar Ibrahim, Ms. Hanan Mohamed, Ms. Fekreya Mohamed (known as RaniaElSheikh), Ms. Salwa Mihriz and Ms. Nahed Sherif (known as Nahed Bibo). WhileYara, Sanaa, Hanan, Samar and Fekreya have been released, Salwa and Nahed arestill detained in Qanater Women's Prison, despite the concerned presidentialpardon. Moreover, the list of those pardoned did not include WHRD and LawyerMahienour El-Massry, who is currently detained in Al-Aba'adeya Women's Prisonin Beheira governorate, in the case known as ElRaml Police Station Case, whileother activists detained on the same case, were among those pardoned.
While the release of the concerned WHRDs is welcomed, it is onlynatural, and may have been conducted quite late, since their imprisonment cameas a result of the application of the Protest and Public Assembly Law No. 107for the year 2013, that is unconstitutional and does not adhere tointernational standards, and any day spent in prison is far too long. Furthermore,the delay in the release of both Ms. Salwa Mihriz and Ms. Nahed Sherif is quiteatrocious, especially that Ms. Mihriz's release is halted by the fact that hername is not written correctly in the pardon decision. As for Ms. MahienourEl-Massry, it is feared that her exclusion from the concerned pardon is aresult of her being targeted for her well-knownand prominent human rights activism.
Subsequently, the undersigned organizations urgethe Egyptian authorities to promptly release both Ms. Salwa Mihriz and Ms.Nahed Sherif today, so they can celebrate El-Adha holidays with their familiesand loved ones, in addition to issuing a supplement to the presidential pardonto include Ms. Mahienour El-Massry so she can join the referred to WHRDs in theirrighteous freedom, especially that they should not have been imprisoned in thefirst place, and for the Egyptian authorities to adhere to internationaldeclarations and treaties that ensure the protection of women human rightsdefenders, respect for their work and acknowledgement of the important humanrights activism they conduct.
The Signed Organizations:
1. Nazra for Feminist Studies
2. Association for Women in Development
3. Urgent Action Fund for Women's Human Rights
4. Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
5. Consorcio para el Diálogo Parlamentario y la Equidad Oaxaca
6. Global Fund for Women (GFW)
7. The International Network Of Women's Fund (INWF)
8. Jass – Asociadas por lo Justo (Mesoamerica)
9. MADRE:Demanding Rights, Resources & Results for Women Worldwide
10. UrgentAction Fund for Women's Human Rights
11. WorldOrganization against Torture (OMCT)
12. WO=MEN DutchGender Platform
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Read moreHuman rights defenders Yara Sallam and Sanaa Seif are free!