Ola Al-Qaradawi and Hosam Khalaf have remained in arbitrary detention for 234 days since their arrest on June 30th 2017 in solitary confinement. Ola and Hosam’s family and friends remain extremely concerned for their mental and physical wellbeing. Family and lawyers continue to be denied visits and communication with them and no one has seen them for 45 days.
For the first time in months, both Ola and Hosam where scheduled for their detention renewal on the same today. Today, both of them were transported to the court house in the police academy in the Torah prison complex and placed in a glass cage in the courtroom.
It was a very emotional moment for the two of them to see one another for the first time for over 200 days. Lawyers were only allowed to communicate to Ola through the glass cage she was held in. They could not hear one another so they communicated with hand signals. Lawyers observed that Ola has lost significant weight and is very weak from poor treatment.
The judge renewed both their detention for another 45 days marking their 3rd 45 day renewal and 13th renewal overall. Ola, Hosam and their legal team have not been officially informed of the charges against them to date.
The pretrial detention is a clear violation of due process. It is also a violation of both Egyptian and international law.
The family calls upon the Egyptian government to unconditionally and immediately release Ola and Hosam. They also call upon the international community and human rights organizations to monitor Ola and Hosam’s court appearances and to urgently assist in securing their immediate release.
For more information:
freeolahosam@gmail.com
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