Two years in Egyptian jail for wearing anti-torture T-shirt

Two years in Egyptian jail for wearing anti-torture T-shirt
For two years, Mahmoud Hussein has been behind bars for a t-shirt. Amnesty International said this is just one example of the Egyptian regime's "ruthless and repressive tactics" against dissenters.
2 min read
26 January, 2016
Hussein has been tortured in detention and forced to sign a "confession" [Facebook]

The Egyptian government has been slammed for the continued detention of a young student for wearing an anti-torture t-shirt.

Mahmoud Hussein has spent more than two years in jail for the t-shirt without being charged, which Amnesty International said on Tuesday was an "utter disgrace" and "flagrant violation of Egyptian and international law".

Hussein was just 18-years-old when he was arrested in 2013 for wearing a "Nation Without Torture" t-shirt and a scarf with the logo of "25 January Revolution". 

The NGO said Hussein has also been tortured and forced to sign a "confession" by National Security Agency.

"Mahmoud Hussein's continuing detention for more than two years is an utter disgrace and an affront to justice. He should not be forced to spend a single day longer in prison," said Amnesty's Said Boumedouha.

"By continuing to detain Mahmoud Hussein the Egyptian authorities are flagrantly flouting Egyptian and international law and making a mockery of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi's claims that 2016 will be the 'year of the youth in Egypt,'" Boumedouha said.

He added that Egyptian authorities should immediately release Hussein and anyone else unlawfully detained for peacefully exercising their right to freedom of expression and assembly.

Hussein is among more than 700 detainees that have been held for more than two years without being sentenced across Egypt.

This month, a Cairo court renewed Hussein's detention for 45 days.

"Mahmoud is an example of how pre-trial detention is now the punishment, whereas many defendants in cases related to torture and corruption are being released pending trial," said Hussein's brother Tareq.

"Mahmoud will miss one more year of school due to his continued detention," he added.

Sisi has launched a deadly crackdown on the Muslim Brotherhood movement of ousted Islamist president Mohamed Morsi and secular leftists, since leading a military coup in 2013.

Hundreds of supporters of the now blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood have been killed and thousands jailed, while hundreds more have been sentenced to death.