Hoe ga je te werk?
in 5 eenvoudige stappen

1. Open je e-mailprogramma. Start een nieuwe e-mail.

2. Kopieer de tekst van de Engelse brief gericht aan de Egyptische autoriteiten die je hieronder terugvindt. 

3. Vul de onderwerpregel van je e-mail in. Dat kan bijvoorbeeld zijn: 'Let Ahmed Samir graduate!' of 'Lift the travel ban against Ahmed Samir!'

3. Voeg het e-mailadres [email protected] van de Egyptische minister van binnenlandse zaken toe als ontvanger. 

4. Voeg in BCC het e-mailadres [email protected] toe.
Zo kunnen wij bijhouden hoeveel mensen er in totaal actievoeren. Dat aantal gebruiken we om de druk op te voeren bij ons ministerie van buitenlandse zaken zodat ze Ahmeds zaak aankaarten in hun gesprekken met de Egyptische autoriteiten.

5. Klik op verzenden. 

AAN: Minister of Interior Mahmoud Tawfik 

Dear Minister, 

Former prisoner of conscience Ahmed Samir Santawy is a researcher and an anthropology student at the Central European University in Vienna, Austria. He is currently finishing his master’s degree and is set to graduate in September 2023. 

Ahmed Samir Santawy was arrested on 1 February 2021 and subsequently convicted for spreading “false news” and sentenced to four years’ imprisonment following an unfair trial. His conviction was based solely on social media posts criticizing human rights violations in Egypt and the state’s mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic which he denies writing. Following a global campaign, he was released on 30 July 2022 after receiving a presidential pardon. 

Even though Ahmed Samir Santawy is not facing any charges, the Egyptian authorities continue to prevent him from leaving the country. On 27 August 2022, Cairo International Airport officials informed him that he was banned from travelling to Austria to resume his studies, citing “instructions from security agencies” and giving him no legal reasons. On 3 June 2023, he attempted to leave Cairo International Airport again, but immigration officers prevented him from travelling to Austria without justification or judicial order. It has been almost a year since he was released from prison but Ahmed Samir Santawy continues to be deprived of his freedom of movement which is severely disrupting his professional and personal life.   

Egyptian authorities continue to ban at least 18 human rights defenders and NGO workers from travelling abroad, some for over six years. Security forces have wide discretionary powers to ban individuals from travelling without judicial orders or any due process. Most of those subjected to travel bans are not even informed of any restrictions and only discover that they are banned from travelling when they attempt to board international flights.   

In light of the above, I urge you to immediately revoke the arbitrary travel ban against Ahmed Samir Santawy and all other arbitrary travel bans against human rights defenders, civil society members, political opponents and others who are being targeted solely for peacefully exercising their human rights.  

Thank you for your attention.