June 1st, 2018
Ola and Hosam have been detained for 335 days. But their cases are garnering international voices demanding their release and the reunification with their loved ones.
MEP Ana Gomes is a current Member of the European Parliament (MEP) whose work focuses on foreign affairs, human rights, corruption, and the rule of law. Last week, on May 23rd, she wrote a letter addressing her concerns about the current conditions of Ola and Hosam to the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, to the European Union’s Special Representative for Human Rights, and to the Head of the European Union Delegation in Egypt calling for the release of Ola and Hosam.
In her letter she calls upon the European Union to “demand from the Egyptian authorities the release of both Ms Ola al-Qaradawi and Mr Hosam Khalaf who are among the estimated 60 000 political prisoners presently being detained in Egypt. The EU cannot turn a blind eye to the human rights disaster that has engulfed Egypt..”
This week, on May 30th Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the women-led peace group CODEPINK, a women-initiated grassroots peace and social justice movement, also wrote a letter to President Donald Trump calling on him to demand that the Egyptian government release Ola and Hosam.
The letter focuses on the violation of Ola and Hosam’s human rights, their deteriorating health and the need to take action immediately to put pressure on the Egyptian government. CODEPINK raised concerns following Amnesty’s determination that Ola’s prison conditions amounts to torture.
The #FreeOlaAndHosam campaign has received support from prominent individuals and organizations around the world. International pressure is rising as Ola and Hosam are coming close to hitting the 1 year mark of being illegally detained in Egypt.
For more information:
freeolahosam@gmail.com
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