May 6, 2026
The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms condemns and expresses deep concern over the continued detention of the Palestinian refugee “Mohamed Ali Zannoun” for more than two years without being charged or brought before a judicial authority, and without being afforded the guarantees of defense or the right to challenge the legality of his detention, in clear violation of the Egyptian Constitution and the rules of the Criminal Procedure Law.
Mohamed Ali Zannoun (30 years old, from the Gaza Strip), holding Palestinian passport No. 5093232, and residing in Egypt since 2020, was arrested on Abbas El Akkad Street, Nasr City, Cairo, on April 22, 2024, and has since remained detained in a police station in Nasr City, Cairo. According to the facts, his arrest came against the backdrop of expressing his legitimate concern and anger regarding what his family in the Gaza Strip has been subjected to during the aggression—an expression that falls within the scope of freedom of opinion and expression guaranteed by law.
His detention comes in violation of the provisions of Egyptian law and constitutes a breach of rights guaranteed under the Egyptian Constitution and international conventions:
The Egyptian Constitution (2014): Article (54) stipulates that personal freedom is a natural right safeguarded and may not be infringed upon; no person may be arrested or detained except by a reasoned judicial order, and must be brought before the investigating authority within 24 hours. The same article guarantees the detainee’s right to contact relatives and a lawyer, which has not been respected in this case.
The Egyptian Criminal Procedure Law: It requires a clear charge and specific legal procedures for pretrial detention, which have not been met in this case, as detention has continued without legal basis or judicial review.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Article (9) states that everyone has the right to liberty and security of person and shall not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention; Article (19) guarantees freedom of opinion and expression.
The principle of non-refoulement: A well-established principle in international refugee law that prohibits the deportation of any person to a country where they may face a threat to their life or safety. This applies to the situation in the Gaza Strip amid the armed conflict and also prohibits deportation to a third country without clear legal guarantees or the individual’s free consent.
According to Article 33 of the 1951 Refugee Convention on the prohibition of expulsion or return, no Contracting State shall expel or return (“refouler”) a refugee in any manner whatsoever to the frontiers of territories where their life or freedom would be threatened on account of their race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion.
According to Article 93 of the Egyptian Constitution, the State is bound by the international human rights agreements, covenants, and conventions it has ratified, which acquire the force of law.
The continued detention without legal basis constitutes arbitrary detention in violation of the Egyptian Constitution, national law, and international obligations. Any attempt to forcibly deport him would also constitute a grave violation of the principle of non-refoulement.
Based on the above, we call for the following:
- Opening an investigation by the Public Prosecution into the detention of a person for two years without any charges and holding those responsible accountable.
- The immediate and unconditional release of the refugee Mohamed Ali Zannoun.
- Enabling him to exercise all his legal rights, including communication with his lawyer and family.
- Halting any procedures or arrangements aimed at deporting him to a third country without his consent; and, if he so wishes, ensuring his voluntary and safe return to the Gaza Strip, or granting him a legal status that protects him within Egypt.