On Thursday, the Cairo New Administrative Court resumed the first appeal session concerning the five-year prison sentence handed to prominent Egyptian economist Dr. Abdel Khaleq Farouk on charges of “spreading false news.” The hearing comes amid widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, which have described the original verdict, issued earlier this month, as unjust and the trial as falling far short of basic fair trial standards. n nAccording to Farouk’s legal team, during the initial session, the court denied the defense access to the case file despite repeated requests—a fundamental requirement for a fair legal process. Instead, the prosecution was allowed to present its arguments, after which the conviction was swiftly issued without granting the defense an opportunity to respond or review evidence. The defense has now formally requested access to the documents in today’s session to ensure procedural fairness. n nCoinciding with the appeal hearing, eleven Egyptian human rights organizations jointly denounced the October 2, 2025 ruling by the New Cairo Shorouk misdemeanor court. In a public statement, they emphasized that the case stems from Farouk’s critical economic analyses and commentary on national policies, asserting that the trial was marred by multiple procedural and legal violations. n nSignatories to the statement include active civil society entities such as Egypt Wide for Human Rights, the Egyptian Front for Human Rights, the Justice Committee, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, El Nadeem Center, the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, the Egyptian Human Rights Forum, the Refugee Platform in Egypt, the Support for Law and Democracy Foundation, and the Sinai Human Rights Foundation. n nThe organizations stressed that the judicial pursuit of Farouk constitutes a clear violation of fundamental rights, particularly freedom of opinion and expression protected under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They warned that the verdict sends a chilling message: dissent will be met with repression and imprisonment. The groups are calling for Farouk’s immediate and unconditional release, along with access to necessary medical care. n nThe case dates back to October 20, 2024, when Egyptian authorities arrested the intellectual from his home. He was interrogated by the Supreme State Security Prosecution in case number 4937 of 2024, initially facing accusations of joining and financing a terrorist group, as well as disseminating false information. These charges were primarily based on 40 articles he authored criticizing President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the country’s economic policies. n nDuring his detention, Farouk described inhumane prison conditions, stating he was denied basic medical treatment and sunlight exposure, with inmates confined to cells for nearly 23 hours a day—a practice that severely impacts both physical and mental health. Such conditions, the organizations argue, violate international standards on the right to life and health, as outlined in UN prisoner treatment principles. n nOn September 25, 2025, Farouk’s legal team was blindsided by his sudden referral to the Shorouk misdemeanor court without prior notice, a move deemed a breach of the right to legal representation and fair trial guarantees. It was later revealed that the prosecution dropped the terrorism-related charges, narrowing the case solely to spreading false news. During the October 2, 2025 session, the court rejected the defense’s request to review evidence, permitted only the prosecution to argue, and then abruptly adjourned. Two days later, the defense learned of the five-year sentence through unofficial channels, as no public announcement was made—another apparent violation of due process. n nFarouk’s prosecution is seen as part of a broader pattern of targeting intellectuals and researchers for expressing critical views. In October 2018, he was previously detained following the publication of his book “Is Egypt Really a Poor Country?”, which challenged prevailing economic narratives and government policies. Although released later, authorities confiscated the printed copies, reinforcing claims of a systematic effort to silence economic and political critique. n nMore broadly, Egypt’s human rights landscape continues to deteriorate, according to local and international watchdogs. Despite the launch of a “National Human Rights Strategy,” authorities persist in suppressing political opposition and independent civil society through arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions of opinion leaders, activists, and journalists. The charge of “spreading false news” remains a frequently used tool to silence dissent, often applied without concrete evidence. International observers consistently report that such trials lack essential fair trial safeguards, including the right to legal defense and access to evidence. n
— news from alaraby.co.uk
— News Original —
Egyptian Economic Analyst Faces Appeal Hearing Amid Rights Groups’ Condemnation of Five-Year Jail Sentence
On Thursday, the Cairo New Administrative Court resumed the first appeal session concerning the five-year prison sentence handed to prominent Egyptian economist Dr. Abdel Khaleq Farouk on charges of “spreading false news.” The hearing comes amid widespread condemnation from human rights organizations, which have described the original verdict, issued earlier this month, as unjust and the trial as falling far short of basic fair trial standards. n nAccording to Farouk’s legal team, during the initial session, the court denied the defense access to the case file despite repeated requests—a fundamental requirement for a fair legal process. Instead, the prosecution was allowed to present its arguments, after which the conviction was swiftly issued without granting the defense an opportunity to respond or review evidence. The defense has now formally requested access to the documents in today’s session to ensure procedural fairness. n nCoinciding with the appeal hearing, eleven Egyptian human rights organizations jointly denounced the October 2, 2025 ruling by the New Cairo Shorouk misdemeanor court. In a public statement, they emphasized that the case stems from Farouk’s critical economic analyses and commentary on national policies, asserting that the trial was marred by multiple procedural and legal violations. n nSignatories to the statement include active civil society entities such as Egypt Wide for Human Rights, the Egyptian Front for Human Rights, the Justice Committee, the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies, El Nadeem Center, the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, the Egyptian Human Rights Forum, the Refugee Platform in Egypt, the Support for Law and Democracy Foundation, and the Sinai Human Rights Foundation. n nThe organizations stressed that the judicial pursuit of Farouk constitutes a clear violation of fundamental rights, particularly freedom of opinion and expression protected under Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They warned that the verdict sends a chilling message: dissent will be met with repression and imprisonment. The groups are calling for Farouk’s immediate and unconditional release, along with access to necessary medical care. n nThe case dates back to October 20, 2024, when Egyptian authorities arrested the intellectual from his home. He was interrogated by the Supreme State Security Prosecution in case number 4937 of 2024, initially facing accusations of joining and financing a terrorist group, as well as disseminating false information. These charges were primarily based on 40 articles he authored criticizing President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the country’s economic policies. n nDuring his detention, Farouk described inhumane prison conditions, stating he was denied basic medical treatment and sunlight exposure, with inmates confined to cells for nearly 23 hours a day—a practice that severely impacts both physical and mental health. Such conditions, the organizations argue, violate international standards on the right to life and health, as outlined in UN prisoner treatment principles. n nOn September 25, 2025, Farouk’s legal team was blindsided by his sudden referral to the Shorouk misdemeanor court without prior notice, a move deemed a breach of the right to legal representation and fair trial guarantees. It was later revealed that the prosecution dropped the terrorism-related charges, narrowing the case solely to spreading false news. During the October 2, 2025 session, the court rejected the defense’s request to review evidence, permitted only the prosecution to argue, and then abruptly adjourned. Two days later, the defense learned of the five-year sentence through unofficial channels, as no public announcement was made—another apparent violation of due process. n nFarouk’s prosecution is seen as part of a broader pattern of targeting intellectuals and researchers for expressing critical views. In October 2018, he was previously detained following the publication of his book “Is Egypt Really a Poor Country?”, which challenged prevailing economic narratives and government policies. Although released later, authorities confiscated the printed copies, reinforcing claims of a systematic effort to silence economic and political critique. n nMore broadly, Egypt’s human rights landscape continues to deteriorate, according to local and international watchdogs. Despite the launch of a “National Human Rights Strategy,” authorities persist in suppressing political opposition and independent civil society through arbitrary arrests and prolonged detentions of opinion leaders, activists, and journalists. The charge of “spreading false news” remains a frequently used tool to silence dissent, often applied without concrete evidence. International observers consistently report that such trials lack essential fair trial safeguards, including the right to legal defense and access to evidence.