Court extends Activist Ahmed Douma’s remand detention

A Badr misdemeanor court extended on Thursday the detention of prominent Egyptian activist and writer Ahmed Douma for an additional 15 days pending investigation, in a case that raised concerns among rights advocates for political detainees, especially those granted pardons.

The court’s decision comes four days after Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution ordered Douma’s detention on charges of “spreading false news and statements that could disturb public order,” following questioning over an article he authored, titled “From the Prison Inside the State to the State Inside the Prison.”

During Thursday's session, Douma denied all accusations, maintaining that his article did not contain fabricated information but instead documented “previous violations” he endured as a political prisoner. He also said that prosecutors had repeatedly ignored earlier complaints he filed. According to defense lawyer Mahienour al-Massry, Douma also said he was denied access to necessary medication.

His brother, Mohamed Douma, told Mada Masr the activist has suffered from chronic nerve, joint and digestive issues dating back to his initial arrest in December 2013, for which he needs ongoing medication.

Douma was first detained in 2013 and sentenced to 15 years in prison in connection with clashes between protesters and police forces near the Cabinet building in downtown Cairo. He was released under a pardon by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in August 2023. However, since his release, he has been repeatedly summoned for questioning in publishing-related cases and released each time on bail — raising concerns that his re-arrest was imminent.

At Thursday’s hearing, Douma’s defense team urged prosecutors to clarify the legal grounds for extending his detention. A prosecution representative argued that continued detention was necessary to prevent Douma from fleeing, tampering with evidence or disturbing public order.

But Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, dismissed those justifications as “illogical,” noting that Douma had complied with seven previous summons over the past two years and had not attempted to evade authorities.

Bahgat added that Douma had been given “no recovery period” after an “extraordinary experience,” referring to his 10-year imprisonment. Since his release, Douma has been unable to work as a journalist, his original profession, or even to practice as a lawyer despite earning a law degree while in prison.

Mohamed Douma said his brother faced repeated barriers to working in Egyptian media. A poetry collection written during his imprisonment and published after his release was banned from distribution at the Cairo International Book Fair shortly before its opening in 2021.

Administrative hurdles also delayed the issuance of official documents, including his national ID and passport, for more than two years after his pardon. Though he eventually obtained a passport, airport authorities prevented him from traveling to Beirut in December 2025, Mohamed Douma continued.

Douma remained under close surveillance, he said, claiming that some cafés he frequented were instructed to close upon his arrival. 

Since his release, Douma has faced seven investigations related to social media posts, paying LE230,000 in bail. According to Bahgat, Douma was ordered to pay LE100,000 in bail in a January case — an unusually high amount in political cases.

Bahgat didn’t believe the pardons previously granted to Douma and others would protect them from re-detention. He pointed to other figures who were released under presidential pardons only to be re-arrested later, including Yehia Hussein Abdel Hady, the founder of the Civil Democratic Movement; Sherif al-Rouby, spokesperson for the April 6 movement; and economist Abdel Khaleq Farouk.

He warned against interpreting the recent wave of releases — including detainees such as football Ultras leader Sayed Moshagheb and activist Nermine Hussein — as a sign of political opening, arguing that new arrests and re-arrests have continued in parallel.

According to Mohamed Douma, his brother’s initial release was met with resistance from some state actors, and pressure had been put on him, even within his prison cell, so that the argument can be “he hasn’t stopped [speaking freely] even while in prison. What will he do when he is released,” according to accounts from members of the 2022 presidential pardon committee.

He added that Douma’s speech and writings remain closely monitored. “Just hours after his release, he made a post expressing hope for other detainees’ freedom,” Mohamed said. “Within minutes, intermediaries contacted him asking for the post to be deleted.”

“Ahmed hasn’t really left prison since 2013,” he concluded.