Injured student detainee Esraa al-Taweel’s detention renewed

Student and amateur photographer Esraa al-Taweel had her detention renewed for the eighth time on Monday, despite suffering from a debilitating bullet wound.

Taweel has been jailed for over three months on charges of belonging to a terrorist organization — namely the Muslim Brotherhood — and disseminating false information to foreign entities.

Five photojournalists were also detained by security forces at the Supreme State Security Court in New Cairo while attempting to cover Taweel’s prosecution hearing, according to the privately owned Al-Shorouk newspaper.

Heba al-Khouly from Al-Shorouk, Mostafa al-Sheemi from the Masrawy news website, Mai al-Shami and Ahmed Maarouf from privately owned Youm7, along with Sameh Abu Hassan from Al-Tahrir Newspaper, were all held at the court for two hours. This information was confirmed by the prisoner rights group, Freedom for the Brave.

Taweel’s lawyer, Halim Heneish, told Mada Masr that her defense lawyers were also subjected to harassment by police forces. “We’ve been ordered to stand outside the courthouse during the trial … We’re only permitted to be present with our client when she is being interrogated by the prosecution,” he said.

Heneish asserted that the prosecution has no evidence of the charges they have leveled against Taweel. “Where is the proof that she is a member of the Muslim Brotherhood? Where is the so-called evidence of false news reports, which she allegedly delivered to foreign entities about Egyptian security forces’ excessive use of violence?” he asked.

University student and amateur photographer, 23-year-old Taweel, has been jailed since June 1, when she was arrested outside a restaurant in Southeastern Cairo, along with her two friends Sohaib Saad and Omar Mohamed, who have since been referred to military trial.

Taweel’s whereabouts were unknown for two weeks after her arrest, until she was sighted at Qanater Women’s Prison, where she continues to be held.

On the third anniversary of the 2011 uprising — January 25, 2014 — several months prior to her arrest, Taweel was shot in the back with a lead bullet. The wound caused severe nerve damage to her spine, leaving her confined to a wheelchair.

Her family and lawyers have maintained that with adequate medical treatment and physiotherapy, her condition was gradually improving. But warn that, with the neglect she is experiencing in prison, she could end up paralyzed.

Taweel’s sister Doaa told Mada Masr, “Esraa’s health is deterioratng due to lack of adequate medical attention in prison. Three weeks ago, prosecutors authorized her transfer to Qasr al-Aini Hospital for treatment. Yet she is still languishing in prison.”

Heneish added that Taweel’s lawyers were promised her transfer to hospital for professional treatment, in the absence of physiotherapy provision at the prison hospital.

Doaa said her sister “is walking with the assistance of crutches,” adding, "We have not yet received approval for her hospital treatment from either the Supreme State Security Court or the prison authorities.”

“Her cellmates massage her foot and leg,” Doaa continued, “but this is not professional physiotherapy and they are not specialists, nor do they have the necessary medical equipment to properly treat her.”

Doctors cannot visit Taweel in her cell, Doaa said. “They aren’t even allowed to consult with her during our prison visits, as these are for family members only,” she explained. “The doctor can only visit her after receiving written authorization from the prosecution.”

Doaa delivered two messages on behalf of her sister: “Firstly, Esraa denies her affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. Neither she, nor any of our family members are Brotherhood members. Secondly, she also denies the charges pertaining to her spreading false information. Moreover, she does not understand where such charges originated from, and she denies charges of collaboration with any foreign entity.”

Heneish asserted that Taweel is being held on “trumped-up charges” and should be released to receive the medical attention she needs.

“Esraa is just one of numerous defendants who have been wrongfully arrested and accused in a series of collective roundups which lack the basis of justice. How long will they continue to renew her detention? The indefinite extension of her detention is unconstitutional,” he asserted.

The international human rights group Amnesty International issued a petition earlier this month, demanding an end to Taweel’s incommunicado detention, along with her immediate release, “unless she is charged with a recognizable criminal offense.”