Egyptian detainees appeal to authorities, Al-Azhar Grand Imam and judiciary to end their ordeal

The Families of Egyptian Detainees Association (FEDA) has confirmed receiving a new appeal from pretrial detainees held in Egyptian prisons. The appeal is addressed to Egypt’s leaders and public opinion leaders, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, religious scholars, civil society leaders, professional and labor unions, human rights organisations, legal professionals, members of the judiciary, university faculty members and the Egyptian public.

The detainees call for an end to what they describe as the continuing waste of detainees’ lives and potential, the application of genuine justice, an end to political division and retaliation against opponents, and the preservation of the state and its national institutions.

Among their specific demands is the formation of a judicial fact-finding committee comprising representatives of the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, the Court of Cassation, the Courts of Appeal and the Public Prosecution. The committee would review cases brought by the Supreme State Security Prosecution that, according to the appeal, rely solely on “investigation reports” without corroborating evidence, material exhibits or events and facts warranting prosecution.

The appeal also calls for the suspension of the work of two State Security Criminal Chambers. It alleges that the chambers have issued thousands of pretrial detention orders without sufficient legal grounds, relying on police investigation reports while failing to hear defendants’ legal arguments or defense witnesses. The appeal further alleges weaknesses in the evidence, a lack of concrete facts, confessions or material exhibits, and failures to implement mandatory release orders.

The detainees call for the immediate release of all pretrial detainees who have exceeded the maximum period permitted by law, the use of legally prescribed alternatives to pretrial detention, and guarantees that released defendants will not be repeatedly charged in new cases.

The appeal concludes with a call to end political hostility through reconciliation and impartial, comprehensive justice, allowing detainees to spend the remainder of their lives with their families.

The appeal comes days before Egypt’s new Code of Criminal Procedure is scheduled to come into force in early October 2026. According to the appeal, pretrial detainees are placing particular hope in the new code, especially those who have spent periods in detention far exceeding the maximum period stipulated by law.