The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) has demanded the immediate release of a Palestinian refugee held without charge at a Cairo police station for over two years.
In a statement issued Wednesday evening, the rights group condemned the continued detention of 30-year-old Mohamed Ali Zannoun, who has been held at the Nasr City Police Station since April 22, 2024, without trial.
Zannoun, who has resided in Egypt since 2020, was arrested on Abbas El-Akkad Street for expressing “concern and anger toward the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.” The ECRF maintains that his arrest was a direct violation of his constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of expression.
The commission expressed grave concern over reports suggesting Zannoun may face “forcible return” to Gaza or deportation to a third country. Such a move would constitute a grave violation of the principle of non-refoulement under Article 33 of the Geneva Refugee Convention, to which Egypt is a signatory. The ECRF noted that Article 93 of the Egyptian Constitution grants international treaties the force of law, prohibiting deportation without legal guarantees or free consent.
The ECRF also argued that Zannoun’s detention violates Article 54 of the Constitution, which protects personal liberty. By depriving him of contact with his family or lawyer, the authorities have entirely undermined international agreements, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, thereby effectively turning Zannoun’s stay into “arbitrary detention.”
The rights group called on the Public Prosecution to launch an urgent investigation into the incident and bring those responsible to trial to ensure such violations are not repeated.
Beyond seeking his immediate and unconditional release, the ECRF urged authorities to halt all deportation proceedings. It recommended providing Zannoun a legal status that ensures his protection within Egypt or, should he so desire, facilitating his voluntary return to the Gaza Strip.
