Gamal Ziada, the father of journalist and human rights activist Ahmed Gamal Ziada, was released today, Wednesday, at 2:00 AM from the Tenth of Ramadan Prison in Cairo, after the Public Prosecutor issued a decision to release him.
Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, welcomed the news of Gamal Ziada’s release, saying, “I am pleased to hear about the release of the father of the Egyptian human rights defender in exile, Ahmed Gamal Ziada, who was arrested last month in clear retaliation for his son’s work. All charges against him must be dropped.”
كلمة أحمد جمال زيادة في مقر الأمم المتحدة بجنيف حول قضية اعتقال والده الذي لا علاقة له بالسياسة بسبب عمل ابنه المتعلق بالصحافة والدفاع عن حقوق الانسان pic.twitter.com/0kBtUwQ4Uw
— Zawia3-زاوية ثالثة (@zawiaa3) September 19, 2023
The son, Ziada, had spoken about his father’s case at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva in the presence of representatives from about 25 countries. He stated in his speech, “Was the solution to arrest my father? The solution was in the national dialogue that I initiated to talk to us, so talk to us and do not arrest my father because of my work.”
After his father’s release, Ziada’s son posted on his Twitter account, “My father, Gamal Ziada, was released tonight. I thank everyone who supported us. I extend my hopes for the release of all prisoners of conscience in Egypt.”
On August 22, 2023, security forces arrested Gamal Ziada after his son posted topics related to human rights, the seriousness of national dialogue, and concerns about the upcoming presidential elections. The security forces checked Gamal Ziada’s national ID and detained him at an undisclosed location. National security officers asked him about his son Ahmed Gamal Ziada, his affiliation with human rights organizations, and his journalistic activities. They confiscated his ID card and mobile phone. The next day, Ziada appeared before the State Security Prosecution, accused of spreading false news, misuse of social media, and belonging to a subversive group. Despite his limited activity on social media, where he managed a Facebook account for promotional purposes related to his clothing workshop, he was held in case number 2064/2023 and was ordered detained for 15 days pending investigation, and he was transferred to the Tenth of Ramadan Prison in Cairo.
