On 3 June 2026, the New Cairo Misdemeanour Court sentenced prominent activist and writer Ahmed Douma to one year in prison with labour on charges of spreading “false news”. These charges stem from his article, published on 25 March 2026 by Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, about the impact of unjust imprisonment on state stability, as well as from a social media post published on 29 March 2026 concerning detention conditions in Egypt. His appeal in front of New Cairo Misdemeanours Appeal Court is scheduled for 25 June 2026 . He must be immediately and unconditionally released as he is arbitrarily detained solely for exercising his rights to freedom of expression.
