Freedom of the Press and Media Platform: July 2025 Overview

August 3, 2025

The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms (ECRF) has launched its bulletin on violations against journalism, media, and workers in the journalistic and media field, as well as restrictions on media outlets. In this issue, the Commission documents the most significant violations that occurred within the journalistic and media sphere throughout July 2025, along with the restrictions faced by those working in the field.

The 2014 Egyptian Constitution sought to guarantee freedom of the press and media. Article 65 stipulates that freedom of thought and opinion is guaranteed, and that every person has the right to express their opinion verbally, in writing, through imagery, or by any other means of expression and publication. Article 70 guarantees the freedom of the press, printing, and publishing, and grants the right to own and publish newspapers and establish media outlets for all natural and legal persons, with their issuance requiring only notification. Article 71 prohibits the imposition of absolute censorship on newspapers and media outlets, except during wartime or general mobilization, and also restricts the imposition of custodial penalties for publication-related offenses. Article 72 guarantees the independence of press institutions and media outlets.

However, despite these constitutional guarantees of press and media freedom, these provisions have no tangible effect in reality. There exists an arsenal of laws that restrict the work of journalists and media professionals and hinder the implementation of the principle of information circulation. The Penal Code still contains provisions that impose custodial sentences on journalists, in addition to the absence of a law on the disclosure of information.

Below are the most prominent violations of press and media freedoms documented by the ECRF during July 2025:

Issued decisions to renew detention:

• July 6, 2025: The Cairo Criminal Court, First Terrorism Circuit, postponed the trial of blogger and translator Marwa Ashraf Mohamed Arafa to Saturday, October 18, 2025, in Case No. 570/2020 (Supreme State Security). A security force of six officers arrested Arafa from her home in Nasr City on April 20, 2020, seizing her mobile phone and sums of money she had at the time. After 14 days of enforced disappearance, Arafa appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in connection with the aforementioned case.

In Case No. 570/2020, the prosecution charged her and others with participating in a terrorist group to achieve its goals, receiving funding for terrorist purposes, participating in a criminal agreement aimed at committing a terrorist crime, unlawful assembly, and using private accounts on the Internet with the intent to commit a crime punishable by law to disturb public order.

• July 20, 2025: The First Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, convened at the Cairo Appeals Chamber in the Badr Rehabilitation Center, renewed the pretrial detention of journalist Mohamed Saad Khattab Heggy for 45 days in Case No. 2063/2023, in which he is accused of publishing false news and misusing social media (Twitter). Security forces arrested Khattab from his office in Nasr City on August 19, 2023. He spent the night at the National Security headquarters in Abbasiya, during which he was subjected to psychological and physical abuse, including being left handcuffed and unclothed, before being brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution the following day for questioning.

Khattab suffers from coronary artery disease, for which he has had four stents inserted. He also suffers from hypertension and diabetes, has undergone neck and back surgeries, and has plates and screws in one of his feet. He requires regular medical follow-up and daily treatment.

• July 21, 2025: The First Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, convened at the courthouse annex of the Badr Rehabilitation Center, postponed the first hearing in the trial of Medhat Ramadan, a journalist at Shababeekwebsite, in Case No. 680/2020 (Supreme State Security) and registered as Felony No. 557/2025 (First El-Salam Criminal Court), to October 19, 2025, to allow the defense to review the case file and prepare.

Ramadan was arrested from his family’s home in Monufia Governorate on May 28, 2020, and remained in enforced disappearance for a month until he appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on June 27, 2020. He was investigated in Case No. 680/2020 and charged with joining a terrorist group, publishing false news and statements, and misusing social media. He has since been held in pretrial detention.

• July 27, 2025: The First Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, convened at the Badr Rehabilitation Center, renewed the pretrial detention of journalist Yasser Abu Alaa for 45 days in Case No. 1568/2024 (Supreme State Security), in which he is accused of joining a terrorist group, publishing false news and statements, and committing a financing-related crime.

On the same day, the same court renewed the pretrial detention of journalist Ramadan Gowida Shahata El-Sayed Wahdan for 45 days in Case No. 1568/2024 (Supreme State Security). Gowida, a journalist at Alyoum Al-Ikhbarywebsite, was arrested on May 1, 2024, from Ashmoun, Monufia Governorate. He was forcibly disappeared for 40 days before appearing on June 10, 2024, before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in New Cairo, which ordered his detention in Wadi El-Natrun Prison pending investigation. He faces charges of joining a terrorist group and publishing false news.

On July 27, 2025, the Second Terrorism Circuit at the Cairo Criminal Court, convened at the Badr Rehabilitation Center, renewed the detention of Egyptian translator and cartoonist Ashraf Omar for 45 days pending investigations in Case No. 1968/2024 (Supreme State Security Investigations). He faces charges of joining a terrorist group, publishing false news and statements, and committing a financing-related offense.
Security forces had arrested him from his home on July 22 of last year, taking him to an undisclosed location. He was held in unlawful detention for two days before being brought before the Supreme State Security Prosecution, where he was interrogated, charged with the aforementioned offenses, and remanded in pretrial detention pending investigations.

Release Orders:

On July 20, 2025, the Dokki Prosecution ordered the release of journalists Mahmoud Sabra and Mahmoud El-Dabaa after hearing their statements in Case No. 3794/2025 (Dokki Administrative), filed by businessman and former Senator Ahmed Abu Hashima, on charges of publishing false news and defamation.
The prosecution had previously heard the testimony of the editor-in-chief of the website on July 17, 2025, accusing him of defaming the complainant, libeling him, and publishing false news. He was released on bail of EGP 5,000. At today’s investigation session, the questioning on the charges was completed, and the prosecution decided to renew his release under the same bail terms.

During the same session, the prosecution heard the statements of journalist Mahmoud Sabra, charging him with the same offenses before ordering his release on bail of EGP 10,000.

The case dates back to a complaint filed by Abu Hashima to the Cybercrime Department of the Ministry of Interior on June 3, 2025, accusing the website Al-Safha Al-Oula (The Front Page) of publishing two news reports: the first, in December 2024, alleged that a meeting took place between Abu Hashima and Khairat El-Shater in Paris during the Muslim Brotherhood’s rule to discuss his appointment to a political position; the second, in January 2025, contained allegations about him obtaining a bank loan.

Protests:

On July 1, 2025, dozens of temporary journalists at state-owned newspapers staged a one-hour protest on the steps of the Press Syndicate to demand their right to permanent employment.
Syndicate board member Mahmoud Kamel joined the protest, along with several members of the Syndicate’s General Assembly.

The protesting journalists carried banners reading “Right to Appointment” and “Complete the Appointment Procedures for Temporary Journalists in State-Owned Newspapers.”

Decisions by the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR):

On July 7, 2025, the SCMR announced that it had summoned the legal representative of ON E channel for an urgent hearing, following the broadcast of the latest episode of Ma’akum Mona El-Shazly, which featured the display of artworks without verifying their ownership rights or attributing them to the original artists.

The SCMR’s Complaints Committee, chaired by Essam El-Amir, the Council’s Deputy Chairman, stated in an official release that the General Administration for Media Monitoring documented a clear violation: presenting visual content (artworks) without referencing its original sources or verifying attribution to the actual artists, which constitutes an infringement of intellectual property rights.

The statement confirmed that the Council would conduct an immediate investigation with the channel and take the necessary legal measures if the violation was proven, stressing the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and the need for media outlets to comply with legal and ethical publishing standards.

On July 9, 2025, the SCMR’s Complaints Committee, chaired by Essam El-Amir, decided to summon the legal representative of Al-Shams channel regarding violations in the July 7 episode of The Bulldozer, presented by Captain Magdy Abdel Ghany, featuring guests Captain Osama Hassan and Captain Mostafa Afrotto. These violations related to the Council’s issued regulations, standards, and codes, as documented by the SCMR’s General Administration for Monitoring.

On the same date, the SCMR, chaired by Eng. Khaled Abdel Aziz, received a complaint from lawyer Mohamed Hesham, on behalf of Captain Hussein Labib, Chairman of the Board of Zamalek Sporting Club, against the program Plus 90, hosted by Amir Hesham on Al-Nahar channel, for allegedly broadcasting unverified news. Zamalek submitted a CD containing the episode in question, highlighting the segments mentioned in the complaint. The matter was referred to the Complaints Committee for review.

On July 15, 2025, the SCMR received a complaint from Dr. Saad Shalaby, Executive Director of Al Ahly Sporting Club, against the program Kora Kol Youm (Football Every Day), hosted by Karim Hassan Shehata on Al-Hayat channel, for allegedly broadcasting false information, questioning the club’s integrity, and mocking it. Al Ahly submitted a CD with the relevant episode, highlighting the sections under complaint, and the matter was referred to the Complaints Committee for review.

The SCMR had previously received a complaint from Al-Nahar TV Network against Hussein Labib, Chairman of Zamalek Sporting Club. The network stated that it hosts several prominent Zamalek stars and has no agenda other than seeking information and discussing issues objectively. It claimed that Labib had recently been directly threatening media outlets that spoke about the club, which the network considered intimidation and an infringement on its right to operate professionally. The network affirmed its commitment to the law, media codes, and respect for all entities and individuals in the sports community, urging the SCMR to intervene in accordance with its legal mandate to ensure press and media freedom.

Zamalek Sporting Club had also submitted a separate complaint to the SCMR against Plus 90 on Al-Nahar channel, for allegedly broadcasting unverified news about the club.

On July 20, 2025, the SCMR’s Complaints Committee, chaired by Essam El-Amir, summoned the legal representative of Al-Ahly Magazine regarding the headline of an article published in issue No. 2845 (July 17, 2025), citing violations of the Council’s codes and regulations. The Council also contacted the Press Syndicate to take action regarding the article’s author, Hamed Ezz El-Din, a syndicate member.

The Committee further summoned the administrator of Mohamed El-Gabbaly’s YouTube channel regarding violations in the episode aired on July 6, 2025, and contacted the Press Syndicate to address the matter concerning the content creator, also a syndicate member.

These decisions were based on the findings of the SCMR’s General Administration for Monitoring, which supervises compliance by institutions subject to Law No. 180/2018 with the Council’s issued standards and codes.

On July 22, 2025, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) held its regular meeting, chaired by Eng. Khaled Abdel Aziz, and discussed a number of important issues on the media scene.

The Council issued a decision to reconstitute the Committee for Monitoring Sports Media Performance, chaired by Counselor Abdel Salam El-Naggar, Vice President of the State Council and a member of the SCMR, with the membership of:

• Mohamed Ibrahim Mostafa Mohamed, Supervisor of Sports Programs at Egyptian Television
• Dr. Mohamed Fadlallah, Professor of Physical Education at Helwan University
• Eng. Sherif Amin, Sports Management Expert
• Journalist Ayman Badra
• Abdel Fattah Hassan, Former Head of Nile Specialized Channels Sector
• Mohamed Adel Maher, Media Expert
• Journalist Abir Anwar

The Council also decided to reconstitute the Committee for Licensing Electronic Websites, chaired by Eng. Hossam Abdel Maoula, SCMR member, with the membership of:

• Counselor Abdel Salam El-Naggar
• Journalist Abdel Mohsen Salama
• Journalist Adel Hammouda, SCMR members
• Counselor Yasser Al-Moabdi, Secretary-General of the Council
• Counselor Walid Mahmoud, member of the Council’s Technical Secretariat
• Eng. Ahmed Saeed and Eng. Amr Abbas, “Representatives of the Ministry of Communications”
• Zeinab Hassan, Director-General of Licensing at the Council
• Journalist Ibrahim Rabie
• Journalist Ayman Abu Aaid

The Council approved the recommendations of the Complaints Committee, chaired by media professional Essam El-Amir, SCMR Deputy Chairman, to impose a fine of EGP 50,000 on Al-Shams satellite channel and ban Captain Osama Hassan from appearing in the media for three months, due to violations in several episodes of the program “The Bulldozer” of the regulations, standards, and codes issued by the Council.

It also decided to dismiss complaints submitted by Al Ahly and Zamalek clubs regarding content in an episode of the program “Plus 90” on Al-Nahar channel, and the program “Kora Kol Youm” on Al-Hayat channel, after reviewing the episodes and confirming they contained no violations.

On July 23, 2025, the SCMR issued a statement banning Maha El-Saghir from appearing in the media for six months, and referring allegations of intellectual property rights infringement of works owned by others to the Public Prosecution.

In its latest meeting, the Council decided to ban Maha El-Saghir from appearing in all media outlets for six months for violating SCMR standards and codes, and to issue a warning to the production team of the program “Ma’akum Mona El-Shazly” for failing to ensure accuracy during program preparation, which led to violations of the Council’s regulations.

On July 24, 2025, the SCMR, chaired by Eng. Khaled Abdel Aziz, issued several important decisions in line with Law No. 180 of 2018 on the Regulation of the Press, Media, and the SCMR and its executive regulations, as part of ongoing efforts to regularize the status of media entities and enhance professional discipline in electronic content.

The Council approved granting licenses and legalizing the status of 21 websites and electronic applications after reviewing their files and ensuring compliance with legal and professional standards.

The approved list includes: Telegraph Egypt, Waffarha.com and its app, Bayut.eg, Dubizzle.com.eg, Hawaha Dent, Al-Hekaya Online, Nabd Al-Asima, Montaha News, Aqar Trend, City Today, Al-Hadaba Al-Youm, Al-Hurriya News, Heidelberg Materials and its app, and Jumia and its app. The Council also approved issuing deposit numbers for several periodicals that met the required conditions.

In this context, Eng. Khaled Abdel Aziz, SCMR Chairman, extended his appreciation to Eng. Abdel Sadeq Al-Shorbagy, Chairman of the National Press Authority, for his efforts in finalizing the licensing and legalization of websites owned or affiliated with national press institutions, including Middle East News Agency, Dar Al-Hilal website, and Al-Gomhuriawebsite, in full coordination with the Council and in accordance with Law No. 180 of 2018 and its executive regulations.

The Council reaffirmed its commitment to regulating the media environment, countering any unprofessional practices, promoting a climate of responsible press freedom, and safeguarding the public’s right to free, fair, and highly professional journalism that meets international quality standards while aligning with Egyptian cultural identity.

On July 28, 2025, the SCMR, chaired by Eng. Khaled Abdel Aziz, issued several decisions regarding websites, based on recommendations from the Complaints Committee chaired by media professional Essam El-Amir, after confirming violations of the Council’s regulations, standards, and codes, as follows:

• Obligating Cairo 24 to pay a total of EGP 100,000 for two violations, based on complaints filed by Telecom Egyptand InDrive (smart transport company).
• Obligating Al-Asima News to pay EGP 25,000 based on a complaint by the Egyptian Airports Company.
• Obligating Amwal Al-Ghad to pay EGP 10,000 based on a complaint by Premium Health, in addition to requiring these websites to remove the offending content.

Also on July 28, 2025, the Council decided to dismiss a complaint filed by the Musicians Syndicate against journalist and art critic Tarek El-Shennawy, Khaled Abu Bakr, Mofida Shiha, and Souheir Gouda, regarding their media coverage and televised comments on Al-Nahar channel on July 22 concerning the Syndicate’s recent decision regarding artist Ragheb Alama.

The decision was based on the recommendation of the Complaints Committee, chaired by Essam El-Amir, after a thorough review confirmed that the content contained no professional or media violations.

The SCMR reiterated its firm commitment to protecting freedom of opinion and expression, within a framework of responsibility and professionalism, in line with media work standards and ethics.

Reports and Lawsuits:

On July 1, 2025, the Public Prosecution confirmed in a statement regarding its monitoring of a false news story circulating on social media, which claimed that a member of the Public Prosecution had been forced to resign, and that he, along with several police officers, had been arrested in possession of narcotics, allegedly in connection with investigations into the case of the accused, Sarah Khalifa.

The Public Prosecutor, Counselor Mohamed Shawky, ordered the tracking of accounts and websites that published or republished such false news—news deemed capable of disturbing public security and peace—and to take strict legal action against those responsible.

One of the individuals involved in publishing and republishing such news on a social media platform was identified, and the Public Prosecution ordered his arrest.

In execution of this order, the accused was apprehended, and upon questioning, he admitted committing the act as reported. The Public Prosecution ordered his detention for four days pending investigation, while efforts continue to apprehend others identified in connection with the matter.

On July 2, 2025, the Giza Public Prosecution began extensive investigations into a complaint filed by actress Hala Sedky against an individual whom she accused of insulting her via social media. The prosecution requested the police to expedite their investigations into the suspect, summon him, and question him about the incident.

Security services at the Giza Security Directorate had received the complaint from actress Hala Sedky, who accused a person of defaming her on social media and requested legal action. An official police report was filed.

Separately, the South Giza Prosecution had previously decided to release actress Hala Sedky after hearing her testimony in a complaint filed against her by visual artist Shalimar Sharbatly, wife of director Khaled Youssef, accusing her of perjury in a case involving director Omar Zahran, who was accused of stealing Sharbatly’s jewelry.

During questioning, the prosecution confronted Hala Sedky with the accusation that she had testified falsely in favor of Omar Zahran. Shalimar claimed that Sedky falsely accused Khaled Youssef of being the perpetrator of the jewelry theft. Sedky denied all allegations, stating she did not commit perjury and that her statements were based on what a close friend of Shalimar repeatedly told her: “I’m sure Khaled Youssef stole it, because I asked him twice or thrice for the theft report number, and every time he gave me a wrong number.”

Hala Sedky’s lawyer, Sherif Hafez, argued that the elements of the crime were absent, stating that his client testified in good faith, believing Zahran was not involved in the theft, and that the court did not rely on her testimony in its judgment—making her statement irrelevant to the court’s decision.

Shalimar Sharbatly had also filed a new complaint against Hala Sedky, TV presenter Basma Wahba, and writer Amal Osman, accusing them of perjury, insult, and defamation.

The prosecution heard the statements of Sharbatly’s lawyer, who claimed that the defendants testified in court that Omar Zahran was innocent and alleged that Khaled Youssef was the one who took the jewelry. After these investigations, the South Giza Prosecution decided to keep the file administratively without proceeding further.

On July 8, 2025, the relevant authorities referred a complaint filed by TV presenter Bossi Shalaby against actress Ghada Ibrahim to the Nozha Prosecution for investigation. The complaint accused Ibrahim of insult, defamation, and tarnishing Shalaby’s reputation on social media, as well as alleging that Shalaby’s graduation certificate was forged.

On July 9, 2025, the First Circuit for Rights and Freedoms at the Administrative Court of the State Council postponed a case demanding the banning of “Fadwa Mawahib” social media pages to November 8, in order to respond to the State Commissioners Authority report, and allowed a lawyer to intervene in the case on behalf of Fadwa.

The case, No. 45788/79, accuses the defendant of publishing “extremist and regressive” content on social media, insulting Pharaonic civilization, and violating laws regulating religious and educational work in Egypt.

The plaintiff demanded that Fadwa Mawahib’s accounts on platforms such as Instagram be banned, and that she be prohibited from teaching or engaging in any religious activities, arguing that her content posed a threat to national identity and directly insulted Egypt’s cultural heritage.

The complaint stressed that Pharaonic civilization is a pillar of Egyptian cultural identity and a key source of national income through tourism, and that insulting it damages the country’s image and cultural gains.

Fadwa was also accused of conducting religious activities without official authorization and teaching religious subjects in some schools in violation of the law.

The lawsuit cited Law No. 180/2018 on media regulation, which prohibits publishing content that incites hatred or threatens cultural security, as well as Law No. 51/2014 on regulating religious work, which requires licenses from official authorities such as Al-Azhar or the Ministry of Endowments.

On July 10, 2025, the Third Circuit of the State Commissioners Authority at the State Council postponed the hearing in Case No. 49062/79, filed by singer Haifa Wehbe against the Musicians Syndicate and its head, Mustafa Kamel, to September 11, to allow time for review and exchange of memos between the parties.

This came after the State Commissioners Authority recommended canceling the Syndicate’s decision to ban the Lebanese singer from performing in Egypt, considering it inconsistent with the Egyptian Constitution and freedom of artistic expression.

During the session, a lawyer submitted a request to remove Mustafa Kamel from his position as head of the Syndicate, to cancel the ban decision, and to appoint a Ministry of Culture committee to manage the Syndicate’s affairs to safeguard artistic freedom.

Haifa Wehbe’s lawsuit accused the Syndicate head of “arbitrary measures” against several artists, saying these policies violated artistic freedom and harmed Egypt’s cultural tourism. She alleged that some of the Syndicate’s decisions were influenced by “regressive values” contrary to Egypt’s constitutional spirit and artistic legacy.

The lawsuit highlighted the March ban on Haifa Wehbe’s performances and other similar decisions allegedly made under pressure from “conservative groups,” citing the cancellation of American rapper Travis Scott’s concert as an example.

Haifa’s case relied on Articles 65 and 67 of the Egyptian Constitution, which guarantee freedom of thought and creativity, and cited Constitutional Court rulings striking down certain Syndicate law provisions that imposed prison penalties on non-member artists.

The lawsuit demanded the suspension of the ban on Haifa Wehbe, the dismissal of Mustafa Kamel, and placing the Syndicate under Ministry of Culture supervision, warning that continuing such practices would threaten Egypt’s creative environment and push the country toward greater cultural regression.

On July 10, 2025, the Supreme Administrative Court at the State Council scheduled October 1 as the date for the first hearing in the appeal filed by Dr. Wissam Shuaib, known in the media as the “Kafr El-Dawar Doctor,” against the ruling suspending her from work for six months in the case of disclosing patients’ secrets.
It is worth noting that the Disciplinary Court at the State Council in Beheira, presided over by Judge Tarek Shuaib, had previously sentenced Dr. Wissam Shuaib, the “Kafr El-Dawar Doctor,” to six months’ suspension from work on charges of disclosing patients’ secrets.

The court’s reasoning stated:
“It is constitutionally and legally established that every citizen has the freedom of opinion and the right to express it—whether verbally, in writing, through photography, or by any other means of expression and publication—provided that this right does not infringe on the freedoms of others, and that such expression does not contain insults, defamation, or slander against others. Every freedom carries with it a corresponding responsibility. This right is also guaranteed to public employees within the scope of their public duties—especially in the present day, when social media has become part of daily life. They may express their thoughts, experiences, and work-related situations as long as such expression does not harm the reputation of their superiors, colleagues, or members of the public they interact with, and does not disclose job-related secrets. This is the proper and correct application of this constitutionally protected freedom.”

The judgment added:
“Given the above, the court found that Wissam Shuaib—the Kafr El-Dawar Doctor—had taken it upon herself to act as an advisor, unleashing her tongue against certain individuals in several incidents and situations she recounted in a video posted on her Facebook page, appointing herself as a defender and fighter for society in response to isolated cases and incidents that should not be generalized and do not represent Egyptian society as a whole.”

On July 10, 2025, the defense lawyer of blogger Hend El-Sherif, accused of harassing actor Ashraf Zaki, head of the Actors Syndicate, filed an appeal against the ruling fining her EGP 10,000 for harassment and misuse of social media.
Investigators set September 20 as the date for the first hearing in the appeal against the ruling.

The competent court had previously fined the defendant EGP 10,000 for harassing Ashraf Zaki and misusing social media.
During the trial, lawyer Mohamed Radi, representing the accused, pleaded for her acquittal from the charges brought against her.

On July 11, 2025, a journalist filed a complaint at Agouza Police Station accusing Israa Ayman, widow of the late football player Ibrahim Shika, of assaulting her and causing facial injuries.
Major General Hani Shaarawy, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Giza Security Directorate, received a report from Major Ahmed Farouk, head of Agouza Police Investigations, stating that a journalist had come to file a report against the widow of the late footballer, claiming she had injured her face.

Investigations revealed that the incident occurred after the complainant filmed the accused while she was driving her car, amid prior disputes between them on social media.

Police are currently taking witness statements, conducting further investigations, and reviewing surveillance camera footage to determine the circumstances of the incident, before referring the case to the Public Prosecution for further action.

On July 14, 2025, the Public Prosecution ordered the referral of twenty defendants to the Economic Criminal Court to be tried for charges related to seizing citizens’ funds through the “FBC” online platform.

The Economic and Money Laundering Prosecution had launched investigations into complaints filed by 537 citizens, who reported being victims of online fraud and the unlawful seizure of more than EGP 15,929,357 through a platform promoting fictitious investment opportunities, allegedly offering huge profits in exchange for completing online tasks.

Investigations revealed the identities and roles of the defendants. The platform served as a cover for a criminal organization led by foreign nationals who planned and directed the fraud operations, while Egyptian nationals carried them out. The defendants created groups on WhatsApp and Telegram to lure victims and promote their criminal activities, falsely claiming to hold official licenses.

The referral decision was based on the testimonies of over 350 witnesses, as well as technical and digital evidence, including conversations and video clips documenting the defendants’ activities, and their possession of multiple e-wallets under false identities. They also used a commercial registration for a company bearing the platform’s name, though the Financial Regulatory Authority confirmed it had issued no licenses allowing the company to engage in investment or fund management activities.

The Public Prosecution took urgent measures, including freezing the defendants’ assets, placing them on travel-ban lists, suspending the seized SIM cards, and freezing the associated e-wallets.

The Public Prosecution urged citizens to exercise extreme caution regarding online advertisements promoting fake get-rich-quick schemes, stressing that such offers are merely tools of fraud used by organized criminal groups. It also emphasized the need to avoid dealing with any unlicensed entities in the investment and fund management sector to protect their savings from financial fraud.

On July 16, 2025, Ayman Mahfouz, a cassation lawyer, issued a formal warning to the Chamber of Cinema Industry over violations that marred the special premiere of the film “El Shater,” starring Amir Karara.

Mahfouz described the event as “chaotic” and said it was supposed to represent Egyptian art in an honorable way but instead witnessed numerous breaches reflecting serious negligence by the organizers.

He pointed out that the premiere turned into a disorderly scene where “Suzy Al-Urdunia” and her companion were treated like celebrities on the red carpet, while real actors were expelled and mocked — including actor Hassan El-Hilali. Mahfouz called this “a real predicament” that threatens the reputation of the Egyptian film industry, holding the Chamber of Cinema Industry fully responsible.

In his warning, Mahfouz said that “promoting fake celebrities” such as Suzy Al-Urdunia, who has a final criminal conviction, goes beyond harming the film industry to undermining family and societal values.

He stressed that such individuals do not represent the artistic values the Chamber should uphold. Instead, the Chamber should defend and support its actual members, rather than promoting social media personalities or “bloggers” unrelated to cinema.

Mahfouz stated: “What happened at the special premiere of ‘El Shater’ is a true collapse of the Chamber of Cinema Industry’s role,” describing it as “crowning bloggers at the expense of actors,” in violation of the decision by the head of the Syndicate of Cinema Professions to ban bloggers from participating in artistic works, especially when real artists deserve to appear in such events.

He also noted that the event violated industry laws and regulations, as it was organized illegally without following the rules governing the Chamber’s activities under Decision No. 2355 of 2019, Law No. 70 of 2019 on organizing industrial chambers, and Law No. 13 of 1971 regulating the screening of films.

In conclusion, Mahfouz demanded that the Chamber take all necessary legal measures to hold those responsible for organizing the premiere accountable, conduct thorough investigations, and take steps to protect the industry and safeguard the rights of Egyptian actors.

On July 19, 2025, the Court of Cassation adjourned the appeal filed by director Omar Zahran against his one-year prison sentence with labor to October 1, to include additional case documents, in the case of stealing jewelry belonging to visual artist Shalimar Sherbatly, wife of film director Khaled Youssef, valued at about $2.5 million.

In January 2025, the Giza Misdemeanor Appellate Court reduced Zahran’s prison sentence from two years to one year with labor, while upholding the civil ruling obligating him to pay EGP 40,000 in temporary civil compensation to the plaintiff.

On July 20, 2025, the Agouza Misdemeanor Court in Giza adjourned the trial of former Zamalek Club president Mortada Mansour, accused of insulting and defaming director Khaled Youssef and his wife, visual artist Shalimar Sherbatly, to September 21 for the verdict.

Khaled Youssef posted on his account that the Agouza Court had reserved the case for ruling on September 21, 2025, on charges of insult, defamation, and slander. The Cairo Economic Court also fined a journalist for publishing the same video.

The Public Prosecution in case No. 6298 of 2025 charged Mortada Mansour with insulting and defaming Youssef and his wife on social media over statements he made about the Omar Zahran case, which Youssef considered offensive and for which he filed a complaint.

Mansour had been defending Zahran, who was accused of stealing Sherbatly’s jewelry. Following one court session, Mansour made statements on social media about the case, prompting the filing of the report.

On July 22, 2025, the Cairo Economic Appellate Court set September 30 for the first hearing of blogger Hadir Abdel Razek’s appeal against her one-year prison sentence for inciting debauchery.

The investigating authorities had earlier released Abdel Razek’s husband, who was accused of assaulting her in a widely shared video inside their New Cairo apartment, on bail based on his place of residence.

Previously, security forces had arrested Abdel Razek and her husband to investigate allegations of publishing inappropriate content, inciting debauchery, sharing obscene material, and possibly engaging in blackmail and recording without consent — charges that could change the course of the case if proven.

On July 22, 2025, the competent court adjourned the first hearing in the trial of the defendant accused of blackmailing actor Tarek Reyhan to August 20.

The Public Prosecution charged the defendant with threatening Reyhan in early 2022 in Giza’s Talbeya district by writing threats to reveal dishonorable material in exchange for money.

According to the referral order, the defendant violated Reyhan’s privacy by transferring videos via electronic devices that, if proven, would tarnish his reputation. The defendant used these videos to threaten Reyhan on WhatsApp, attempting to extort money in exchange for not publishing them online.

The order also stated that the defendant created and managed a WhatsApp account to facilitate these crimes and posted private photos of Reyhan that violated his privacy, constituting a flagrant breach of Egyptian family values and societal principles.

Reyhan, 62, testified that the disputes arose from a previous work relationship with the defendant, which escalated after court rulings were issued in Reyhan’s favor, prompting the defendant to blackmail and threaten him for money.

Captain Mohamed Abdel Aziz Ezz El-Din, an officer in the General Administration for Information Technology’s Criminal Investigation Department, testified that his investigations confirmed the incident and that the defendant had used the phone in question to send threats. Technical reports corroborated all the allegations stated in the investigation.

On July 24, 2025, lawyer Ashraf Farahat filed an appeal against the decision of the Economic Court to dismiss the criminal case due to the statute of limitations, in the complaint filed by actress Badreya Tolba against an individual accused of defaming her on social media and distributing her phone number and home address.
Farahat stated earlier that the Economic Court, in response to the complaint filed by actress Badreya Tolba against an individual who defamed her by creating a social media account and distributing her contact details and address, ruled to drop the case due to the expiration of the statute of limitations as a result of delays in initiating proceedings, with the case being shelved multiple times. He added that the actress, through her lawyer, would take legal steps before appealing the verdict.

Earlier, actress Badreya Tolba announced that she would pursue legal action against a person who defamed and insulted her on social media, refusing to disclose the accused’s name.
In a live broadcast, Tolba revealed that there was a dispute and ongoing legal cases between her and a person from the artistic community, prompting her to take legal measures against him, accusing him of defaming and insulting her on social media. She added that the accused published her mobile phone number and home address online, along with derogatory comments damaging her reputation and causing her psychological harm.

On July 26, 2025, lawyer Ahmed Mehran filed a lawsuit before the Administrative Court of the State Council, demanding the establishment of legal regulations, ethical standards, and policies for the TikTok application. His aim was to compel the platform, through agreements or legislation, to remove any content that conflicts with moral values and religious principles.
The lawsuit also called for the activation of self-regulation (content moderation) through cooperation between government authorities and the platform’s management, the imposition of penalties and fines on accounts posting harmful or inappropriate content, and the enactment of a specific law for digital platforms that sets clear moral standards and family values, similar to measures taken by some European countries to protect their social and ethical systems.

Mehran stated: “From a legal and ethical perspective, we seek to oblige the platform to adhere to societal values, because a total ban may push users to resort to VPNs, while regulation ensures control while preserving internet freedom, societal values, and family privacy.”

He pointed out in his lawsuit that under current Egyptian laws—particularly Telecommunications Regulation Law No. 10 of 2003—the government does not have the authority to block any platform or website except in specific cases, such as threats to national security or the publication of content that is prohibited by law.
He further clarified that Article 67 of the Telecommunications Law allows the government to suspend or disable telecommunications services when necessary for national security, but this requires strong justification and formal procedures.
He concluded that international laws and treaties to which Egypt is a signatory—such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights—protect freedom of expression and access to information but allow states to impose necessary restrictions and legal regulations to protect public order, morals, and values.

On July 28, 2025, the Public Prosecution decided to refer a defendant to the Economic Misdemeanors Court for violating Egyptian family values and publishing videos on social media containing indecent content and fabricated accounts of illicit sexual relations between close relatives, in a manner that offends public morals and threatens deeply rooted societal values.
Investigations revealed that the defendant committed the crime by posting such videos through electronic accounts he had specifically created for this purpose, containing immoral content contrary to Egyptian traditions and values, and including deliberately false news intended to disturb public peace and security.

The Alexandria Economic Affairs and Money Laundering Prosecution conducted the investigation and tasked the Ministry of Interior’s Communications and Information Technology Sector with carrying out the necessary technical inquiries. These confirmed that the defendant used those accounts to commit the offense.
The Public Prosecution also examined the mobile phones seized from the defendant and reviewed the accounts installed on them, finding the videos under investigation. The defendant admitted to committing the offense with the aim of achieving high viewership to generate financial profit, which he had indeed obtained and spent. Consequently, he was referred to the competent court, and a separate case file was opened concerning charges of money laundering from the proceeds of these acts.

On July 26, 2025, the court sentenced the defendant to one year in prison with hard labor, imposed a fine of EGP 100,000, and ordered the confiscation of the seized items.
Regarding the money laundering case, the Public Prosecution continued its investigation, and the Public Prosecutor issued a temporary order preventing the defendant and his wife from disposing of their assets, based on evidence confirming the offense.

On July 28, 2025, actress Wafaa Amer decided to file a lawsuit against a TikTok content creator named Marwa, known online as “Bent Mubarak,” after she posted videos accusing the actress of involvement in human organ trafficking cases and defaming her reputation.
Amer confirmed that she had filed four official complaints so far with the relevant authorities, including accusations of publishing false news, deliberate insults, and defaming a public figure without evidence, describing these acts as a serious transgression that could not be ignored.

She stressed that the circulated claims were baseless and represented an attempt to damage her reputation and the name she had built over many years of artistic work, emphasizing that justice would take its course and that she would not hesitate to defend her legal rights.
The Actors’ Syndicate expressed its full support for the actress, confirming in a statement that it was closely following the case and would take all necessary measures against those who deliberately insult Egyptian artists without justification.

On July 29, 2025, the competent court decided to postpone the first hearing in the trial of blogger Akram Salam—accused of brandishing force and threatening violence to intimidate a Jordanian woman—to September 17.
The referral order in case No. 9597 of 2025, Misdemeanors of Al-Muqattam, stated that on the day in question, in the Al-Muqattam district, the defendant displayed force and threatened violence against the victim, I.A.A., with the intent of disturbing public security and peace, imposing control, terrorizing citizens, and instilling fear in their hearts, while in possession of a bladed weapon (a knife), as detailed in the case documents.

Earlier, the Maadi Criminal Court accepted Salam’s appeal against a three-year prison sentence in a separate case involving the blackmail of a television presenter, reducing the sentence to one year with suspension after the presenter withdrew his testimony.
Investigations into the blackmail case revealed that the presenter had insulted and slandered Salam and attacked his honor after a dispute with a woman he had been involved with before marrying a well-known TV presenter. The woman had approached Salam for help, after which he began threatening and blackmailing the presenter, demanding EGP 260,000 in exchange for not disclosing damaging information.