Human rights defender Patrick George Zaki was referred to trial by the Emergency State Security Court on charges of spreading “false news”, based on an article he wrote describing the discrimination faced by Coptic Christians in Egypt. If convicted, he faces up to five years’ imprisonment. Patrick George Zaki is a prisoner of conscience who must be immediately and unconditionally released as he is held solely for exercising his right to freedom of expression.
Index Number: MDE 12/4921/2021