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Amnesty urges Egypt to free dissident activist Alaa Abdel Fattah detained for 1,000 days

The Anews reported, citing the AFP, Amnesty International has called for the release of prominent Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, who on Saturday (June 25) marks 1,000 days of "unjust detention".
Amnesty said in a statement on Friday (June 24): "Tomorrow marks 1,000 days of unjust detention for prominent blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah... and his lawyer Mohammad Baker, both imprisoned solely for the peaceful exercise of their human rights.”
It urged Egypt to release the pair "immediately and unconditionally".
A key figure in the 2011 revolt that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak, Abdel Fattah was sentenced in December to five years in prison after he was convicted along with two others of "broadcasting false news".
Egypt's top political prisoner @Alaa Abd El-Fattah launched a hunger strike earlier this month during his fifth year in Egypt's brutal Tora Prison.
— Democracy Now! (@democracynow) April 19, 2022
His sister, Sanaa Seif, says their family's activism "is no longer a political cause" but has become a "matter of survival." pic.twitter.com/S4dqk8mk4j
He had already been in pre-trial detention in Cairo's notorious Tora prison since September 2019, and has spent the better part of the past decade behind bars.
A according to his family, he has been on hunger strike since early April to protest his prison conditions.
Egypt expects Britain to ban Muslim Brotherhood soon
Amnesty urged the British authorities to "use all means at their disposal" to visit Abdel Fattah and "secure his release".
Abdel Fattah gained UK citizenship in April from inside prison, through his British-born mother Laila Soueif. His family has since been pushing for a consular visit.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on Tuesday (June 21) that Britain was "working very hard to secure his release" and that she was "seeking a meeting with the Egyptian foreign minister".
Egyptian activist Alaa Abdel Fattah launches hunger strike in prison
Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa deputy director Amna Guellali called Abdel Fattah "a symbol of resistance and freedom in Egypt and the wider region".
She said: "His continued unjust imprisonment sends a chilling message to other activists, casting a shadow over preparations for the global UN climate conference taking place in Egypt later this year.”
Human rights groups say Egypt is holding a total of 60,000 political prisoners, many facing brutal conditions and overcrowded cells.
The report noted that Egypt is set to host the COP27 climate summit in November, a role Human Rights Watch has said "rewards" President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's "repressive rule".
Source: anews
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BENEFIT Sponsors BuildHer...
- April 23, 2025
BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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