AHMED
HAMDY ABOU ZEID AL-TANOUBI

Background and Work

Ahmed Hamdy Abou Zeid Al-Tanoubi built his career in Egyptian print journalism, writing for Al-Tariq newspaper before moving into editorial leadership at Al-Diyar. His journalism focused on civil and political rights in a media environment increasingly constrained by state security priorities.

He became a member of the Journalists for Reform movement, which advocates for transparency and independence within Egypt's Press Syndicate. As a researcher at the Arab Observatory for Media Freedom, he documented violations against journalists, including arbitrary detention, censorship, and prosecutions under cybercrime and terrorism laws. His work defending detained colleagues made him a recognized figure in Egypt's shrinking press-freedom community.

Arrest and Detention

Ahmed was arrested on 24 March 2020. He was placed in pre-trial detention in connection with State Security Case No. 977 of 2017, a sprawling investigation known in Egyptian media as "Mekameleen 2." The case has been used to prosecute dozens of journalists, activists, and opposition figures under charges related to national security and membership in banned organizations.

He has been held in Badr 1 Prison in Badr City, east of Cairo, since his arrest. Pre-trial detention in Egypt can be extended indefinitely through renewable fifteen-day or forty-five-day orders, and Ahmed remained in this legal limbo for nearly five years before prosecutors referred his case to trial in January 2025.

Health and Denial of Medical Care

Ahmed suffers from glaucoma, a progressive eye disease that can lead to irreversible blindness without treatment. He requires surgery to manage the condition, but prison authorities have refused to facilitate the procedure or provide adequate medical care. The denial of treatment places his vision at serious risk.

He also lives with diabetes and a herniated disc in his lumbar spine, both of which require ongoing medical management. These conditions have deteriorated during his prolonged detention under poor prison conditions.

Legal Proceedings

In January 2025, the Egyptian Supreme State Security Prosecution referred Ahmed to criminal trial in Case No. 977 of 2017. The referral came after nearly five years of pre-trial detention without a verdict. The charges in the case have not been made public in detail, but the Mekameleen 2 investigation has typically involved accusations of membership in a banned group, disseminating false news, and misusing social media.

State Security Prosecution cases in Egypt are characterized by prolonged pre-trial detention, restrictions on lawyer access, and trials before Emergency State Security Courts or ordinary criminal courts under emergency procedures. Defendants in such cases are often held for years before trial.

International and Domestic Concern

Ahmed's case exemplifies the use of prolonged pre-trial detention as a form of punishment without conviction. His detention has drawn attention from press-freedom organizations, which view it as part of a broader campaign to silence independent journalism and human rights documentation in Egypt. His deteriorating health and the denial of necessary medical treatment have heightened concerns for his safety.