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August 21, 2023

Egyptian Arab Spring Activist Ahmed Douma Pardoned After Decade in Prison
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Egypt's authoritarian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has pardoned nearly
three dozen political prisoners, including a leader of the Arab Spring
uprising that ousted then-President Hosni Mubarak in 2011. Ahmed Douma
was freed Saturday from the notorious Badr prison after nearly a decade
behind bars. In 2013, he and two other protest leaders were arrested for
violating a law effectively banning public protest. His lawyer, Khaled
Ali, welcomed Douma's release but called on Egyptian authorities to set
other political prisoners free.

Khaled Ali: "Thank God for Ahmed's release. But honestly, there are
still many inside, like Alaa Abd El-Fattah, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh,
Mohamed al-Qassas, Mohamed Oxygen, Mohammed Adel. There are also still a
lot of imprisoned women, and we hope that the next time some of them
will also be released, because this is their right. So far, there has
only been a focus on the male activists, but not for the women."



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