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Photojournalism is Not a Crime. Free Shawkan. | ||||
Dear friends, Mahmoud Abu Zeid, better known as Shawkan, was only doing his job as a photojournalist when he covered a peaceful sit-in in August 2013 in Cairo. When security forces swept in, he used his camera to capture the bloodshed. When police found out he was a journalist, they arrested him. They tied his hands together with plastic cables and whipped him with a belt. Today he is held in Cairo's notorious Tora prison. He is a prisoner of conscience and is at risk of the death penalty if convicted. Urge Egyptian authorities to free photojournalist and prisoner of conscience Shawkan. That August day was the bloodiest incident in Egypt's recent history. Over 1,000 people were killed. "It felt like we were in the middle of a war," said Shawkan. "There were bullets, tear gas, fire, police, soldiers and tanks everywhere." Other journalists were arrested at the same time but released within hours. Shawkan has been detained without a trial for more than three years. His arrest, torture and imprisonment send a chilling message to journalists in Egypt — look away or else. He may be executed. We must act now. Show Egyptian authorities that human rights defenders like you WILL NOT look away, and that you will shine a light on this injustice until Shawkan is released. Shawkan is one of Amnesty International's Write for Rights 2016 cases, which means securing his release is a top human rights priority for Amnesty activists like you worldwide. It's time to make some noise for this human defender, before the unthinkable happens. Use your power to help free photojournalist Shawkan. Your action today can help save a life. Thank you. In solidarity, Zeke Johnson Managing Director, Individuals at Risk Program Amnesty International USA | ||||
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