Release of two EIPR clients, accused in the “water bags” case in Port Said and the “singing in the mosque” case in Qalyoub

Press Release

16 October 2022

Today, the State Security Prosecution decided to release Mohamed Ashraf Abdel-Mobada and Ismail Abu Zaid Thabet, held in remand detention pending Supreme State Security case no 41 of 2022, known as the "water bags" case in Port Said.

The events of the case date back to last April, when the Ministry of Interior arrested a number of children and minors against the background of the spread of a video on the Tik Tok application of children throwing water bags at passersby in Port Said.

It also decided today to release Muhammad Maged Hamdan and Ahmed Walid Abdel Moneim Kamel, who were held in remand detention pending Supreme State Security case no.  440 of 2022, known as “the singing in the mosque” case in Qalyub.

The events of the case go back to last June, when they and others were arrested over a video of a person singing inside a mosque. Individuals who had no connection to the incident, other than their presence in the mosque at that time, were arrested.

The Supreme State Security Prosecution accused the defendants in the two cases of joining a terrorist group, deliberately publishing false news and data, and using a special web account with the aim of committing the publishing crime.

EIPR lawyer and their defender, Nabih El-Genady, insisted that the EIPR’s minor clients were not connected to these incidents. However, their detention continued for several months until the State Security Prosecution decided to release them today among a list of 25 detainees who were held in remand detention.