Egypt’s Supreme State Security Prosecution has summoned detained poet Galal El-Behairy for questioning in connection with a new case, accusing him of “joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, financing a terrorist group, and publishing and broadcasting false news,” according to his lawyer, Mokhtar Mounir.
Mounir told Al Manassa that the case, reportedly based on investigations from 2023, “may currently be under preparation for referral to trial.” He said El-Behairy’s name was added to the case despite the fact that he was already in pretrial detention at the time.
This marks the fourth case against El-Behairy during his years of imprisonment, noted Mounir. “We are waiting for the prosecution’s decision on whether to formally include him in this case, after which we will pursue the necessary legal procedures,” he added.
El-Behairy’s sister, Nayera, described his health as “stable” during her family’s most recent visit. “He promised me he would be with us outside prison soon. We now wait for the next visit to check on him after this new referral,” she told Al Manassa.
Authorities had arrested El-Behairy at Cairo Airport on March 3, 2018, following a complaint accusing him of insulting the president. He was simultaneously prosecuted in two separate cases: one over a satirical song, the other over a poetry collection.
State Security prosecutors charged El-Behairy with “joining a terrorist group, spreading false news, and insulting the president.” He remained in detention until his conditional release in April 2019, which was later lifted in February 2020.
In a second case before the military prosecution, El-Behairy was charged with “spreading false rumors by authoring a book containing false news and statements about the Egyptian Armed Forces, and insulting the military.” A military court sentenced him on July 31, 2019, to three years in prison and a fine of 10,000 Egyptian pounds, which was overturned on appeal, though the prison term was upheld.
He completed that sentence on July 31, 2021, but instead of being released, El-Behairy was referred back to State Security prosecutors and charged again with “joining a terrorist group with knowledge of its aims, and spreading false news.” He has remained in pretrial detention since.
During his more than eight years in custody, El-Behairy has staged hunger strikes, including a partial strike beginning March 5, 2023, later escalating to a full strike from food and water. On Sept. 9, 2023, he attempted suicide in protest of his continued detention.
